WINTER PROTECTION. 21 



WINTER PROTECTION. 



Rhododendrons vary much in hardiness. The 

 greater part of the varieties found in English and 

 continental catalogues are tender" in the latitude of 

 Boston. 



Yet there are some magnificent varieties that 

 are as hardy as a white pine, and which will endure 

 uninjured our severest winters. But even these 

 should he protected when first planted. 



The first Rhododendron bed we ever made is on 

 the north-western slope of a steep hill, exposed to 

 the fiill force of the winter storms. It was planted 

 ten years ago, with seven varieties of Catawbiense 

 hybrids. For two years it was well protected in 

 winter ; but ever since it has stood without the 

 slightest protection, entirely uninjured, although the 

 mercury has at times fallen to fifteen degrees below 

 zero. The plants are now ten feet high, immense 

 masses of glorious foliage ; and every June display 

 thousands of gorgeous flowers. 



Some of the more tender varieties endure the win- 

 ter perfectly well if protected from the wind, and we 

 may safely state that — of say seventy-five — of the 

 hardiest of the Catawbiense kinds, the greater part 

 will endure severe cold below zero, if they can be 

 sheltered from the direct influence of the wind. 



Even the hardiest kinds are sometimes injured in 

 their foliage by the wind ; and for this reason only 

 we protect standards during the winter, as we shall 

 fully describe in another chapter. 



