42 GREENHOUSE FLOWERING PLANTS. 



cultivation of Rhododendrons in pots and boxes has to be con- 

 ducted with great care and consideration ; any mistake in 

 allowing the plants to get dry, which, from the nature of the 

 soil they grow in, is very apt to be the case unless they are 

 closely watched, may ultimately result in failure. They may 

 also be over-watered, which is equally ruinous, but which only 

 occurs through imperfect drainage. The soil they succeed best 

 in is rich fibrous peat with a little leaf-mould, and rough 

 silver sand sufficient to keep the whole open. Large plants do 

 not require to be often re-potted, but they should be annually 

 top-dressed in spring, with the same compost and rich decayed 

 manure. 



They should also be watered with weak liquid manure, to 

 assist them in developing their flower-trusses to the greatest 

 perfection. Very little training is needed for large speci- 

 mens, except tying the shoots to keep them clear of each 

 other, and equalising the space in which they have to grow. 

 Damp on the flowers should be guarded against, and no water 

 allowed on the foliage while the plants are in bloom. The 

 flowering shoots should be well supported, to prevent them 

 shaking when being removed to the exhibition. 



Hardy Rhododendrons are sometimes exhibited, and a grand 

 display they make when in full flower. Instead of pot culture 

 for this purpose, the plants should be grown on a peat border 

 specially prepared for them. They ahovild be transplanted 

 every second year to confine the roots, and when wanted, they 

 can be lifted and potted after the buds are set and matured, 

 and afterwards transferred to the greenhouse to bloom. 



EHYNCHOSPERMUM. 



R. jasminoides is the only species of this genus of import- 

 ance as an exhibition plant. When it is properly grown and 

 trained into a large and profusely flowered specimen, it has 

 an attractive appearance, and is of considerable weight in 

 competition. It grows freely in a mixture of loam and peat, 

 with a little silver sand and charcoal. It should be trained 

 on a balloon trellis ; but in order to get it into a proper 



