32 THE BSODODENDRON. 



AS PARLOR PLANTS. 



Many will be surprised at our recommending the 

 Rhododendron as a parlor plant ; yet we know of 

 none more showy or of easier culture. We have 

 grown very fine specimens in a southerly window, 

 and had magnificent trusses of bloom during March 

 and April. 



The process is very simple ; being only to take up 

 the plants in autumn, pot them, and keep them in a 

 light, cool cellar, as above directed, and after the 

 turn of the year place them in the parlor-window. 

 The heat of furnaces or exhalations from gas-burn- 

 ers, which prove so fatal to most parlor plants, do 

 not seem to affect them, and they soon develop fine 

 trusses of bloom. 



By a selection of varieties, fine contrasts of color 

 may be obtained ; and, by taking some of the late 

 flowering kinds, a succession of flower may be main- 

 tained until the Rhododendrons bloom in the open air. 



Parlor forcing is bad for the plants, as they sel- 

 dom make good wood, the growth being generally 

 weak and long ; but in a few years the plants re- 

 cover, and are again ready for forcing. 



We have found " Cunningham's Dwarf White," in 

 its varieties, one of the best of the ponticum hybrids, 

 admirably adapted for parlor culture. We have also 

 successfully forced some of the most showy of the 

 Gatawbiense hybrids, such as Nero, Lord John Rus- 

 sell, and Brayanum, with perfect success ; and can 

 recommend parlor forcing to all lovers of Rhodo- 

 dendrons. 



