432 BRECK’S NEW BOOK OF FLOWERS. 
ment of the Rhododendron, and has, at my request, fa- 
vored me with a letter, from which I extract the following: 
“The beautiful hybrid varieties sent us a few years ago 
from the English nurseries, have proved as hardy and as 
well adapted to our climate, as our native A. maximum ; 
the flower-buds are sometimes killed by severe winters, 
but that may be avoided by a slight covering of white 
pine boughs, laid over the plénts before winter sets in; by 
so doing, I never had a bud injured. I will now state for 
the information of all amateur florists, the best method of 
preparing the soil fora luxuriant growth, and gorgeous 
display of flowers. The following kinds of American 
shrubs, along with the Rhododendrons, will all flourish 
and do well with the same soil and treatment: Kalmia 
latifolia, Andromedas, and all the fine, new, hardy, hy- 
brid Azaleas. Select a piece of ground in a partially 
shaded situation, then excavate and cart away all the soil 
to the depth of two feet, then fill the hole, about one- 
half full, of dry peat mud; then from the hollow places 
of an old oak wood, dig six or eight inches of the soil, 
which is principally decomposed leaves; cart and fill up 
the whole excavation; then lay all over the top six inches 
of clear white sand; then begin at one side, turning, 
breaking up, and mixing the whole together twice, allow- 
ing the bed to stand for some time to settle; it will ulti- 
mately be no higher than the surrounding ground. In 
the months of April or May, plant all the sorts and vari- 
eties of those I have named, from two to two and one- 
half feet apart, -mixing the different colors to suit the 
taste. Afterwards, lay a covering of leaves, six inches in 
depth, all over the ground, amongst the plants, the same 
never to be removed; and as they have decayed through 
the summer, add more to those that have blown amongst 
them by the fall winds. They are all propagated by seeds 
or layers; but as both methods take a number of years to 
