26 THE RHODODENDRON. 



from the ground, where it is eleven inches around ; 

 it is eight feet four inches high, and the head is 

 twenty feet four inches in circumference ; and the 

 whole plant requires in winter, to cover it, a shed 

 six feet square by nine feet high. 



It is of the variety roseum elegans, which is par- 

 ticularly adapted for standards ; and in June is so 

 covered with flowers as almost to conceal the foliage. 



Tliis plant was imported five years ago, and has 

 since stood uninjured two ■ of the hardest winters 

 upon vegetation which we have known. We have 

 many other fine standards, both of hardy and tender 

 varieties : the former, with a slight protection from 

 wind and sun, are entirely uninjured by the winter ; 

 the latter are removed to the Rhododendron cellars, 

 of which we give a description in a future chapter, 

 upon the approach of severe weather. 



Our advice would be to all to plant a few standard 

 Rhododendrons. They are expensive ; but one will 

 make more show than a dozen smaller plants, and 

 will not cost much more. In the centre of a bed, a 

 tall standard rising above the more dwarf plants is 

 especially effective. 



The only care necessary is to be sure the plants 

 are worked on Catawbiense stock : those grown on 

 ponticum stock would be killed or injured by the 

 first winter. 



In planting them, the position should not be too 

 sunny, as the hot suns of summer may injure the 

 tall trunks. We have sometimes, when the weather 

 was very hot and dry, pressed a large flower-pot into 

 the ground close to the stems of the standards, and 



