RHODODENDRONS — ROSE 391 
They require a deep, fibrous earth, and it is supposed that they 
do not thrive in limestone soils or where wood ashes are freely used. 
While rhododendrons will sometimes succeed without any special prep- 
aration of the ground, it is advisable to take particular pains in this 
regard. It is well to dig a hole 2 or 3 feet deep, and fill it with 
earth compounded of leafmold, well-rotted sod, and peat. The 
moisture supply should be never failing, for they suffer from drought. 
They should be mulched summer and winter. Plant in spring. 
The hardy garden forms are derivatives of Rhododendron Cataw- 
biense, of the southern Appalachian Mountains. The Pontica and 
other forms are not hardy in the North. 
The “great laurel” of the northern United States (p. 299) is Rho- 
dodendron maximum. This has been extensively colonized in large 
grounds by being removed from the wild in carload lots. When the 
native conditions are imitated, it makes unusually good mass planting. 
Like all rhododendrons it is impatient of drought, hard soil, and full 
exposure to midday sun. This species is valued for its foliage and 
habit more than for its bloom. The wild form of R. Catawbiense is 
also transferred to grounds in large quantities. 
Rose. — No home property is complete without roses. There are 
so many kinds and classes that varieties may be found for almost any 
purpose, from climbing or pillar subjects (p. 318) to highly fragrant 
teas, great hybrid perpetuals, free-blooming bedders, and good foliage 
subjects for the shrubbery. There is no flower in the growing of which 
one so quickly develops the temper and taste of the connoisseur. 
Roses are essentially flower-garden subjects rather than lawn sub- 
jects, since flowers are their chief beauty. Yet the foliage of many 
of the highly developed roses is good and attractive when the plants 
are well grown. To secure the best results with roses, they should 
be placed in a bed by themselves, where they can be tilled and pruned 
and well taken care of, as other flower-garden plants are. The ordinary 
garden roses should rarely be grown in mixed borders of shrubbery. 
It is usually most satisfactory also to make beds of one variety rather 
than to mix them with several varieties. 
If it is desired to have roses in mixed shrubbery borders, then the 
single and informal types should be chosen. The best of all these is 
