the base is examined, it may be found that there are a couple of Positions 
buds seated on the top of the flower stem, nestling, so to say, suitable for 
under the truss. It is important that these should not be injured, Planting 
especially if there be a paucity of new growths, because they ppododen- 
represent the successional shoots and flowering wood of the 
following year; and unfortunately they are very easily 
injured by a careless or uninformed operator. The decaying 
trusses should be firmly grasped between fingers and thumb, and 
broken off, not over, but between, the buds, which then run no 
risk of injury. The prevention of seeding, which follows on 
the removal of fading flowers, relieves the plant of a heavy 
potential strain, and permits it to proceed unhampered with its 
task of developing fresh flowering growths. It is a somewhat 
tedious task, but it is well repaid, for plants thus dressed after 
blooming yield much finer trusses than those left to nature. 
Much attention is rightly being devoted to the disposition 
of the plants in ways which give bold effects and fine colour 
contrasts or harmonies, but the practical point of shelter should 
never be lost sight of. It is often desired to set a fine variety, 
Pink Pearl for example, in an isolated position, for the sake of 
individual effect; but if the site be exposed to cutting winds, or 
very hot, the project may be a failure. The word “ hardiness” 
ought to be used in a limited sense in connection with Rhodo- 
dendrons. They are hardy (or at least a considerable number 
are), in the sense of resisting frost, but they do not like bleak 
places—positions where they are worried by gales. They 
ought to have the shelter of belts of trees or coarser shrubs, the 
former for preference, because, in addition to breaking the wind, 
trees hold off fierce sunheat if properly placed. This must not 
_ be read as a recommendation of dense shade, Rhododendrons 
T 145 
drons 
