22 THE RHODODENDRON. 



Evergreen boughs are the best winter protection 

 for Rhododendrons. We use the common red cedar, 

 it being of very dense growth, and plentiful in the 

 neighborhood ; but any evergreen will answer a good 

 purpose. 



The boughs of small trees are cut somewhat longer 

 than the plants to be protected, and are stuck into 

 the ground around the plant, in a slightly slanting 

 position. When the ground freezes they become 

 firmly fixed in position, and any weight of snow 

 causes them to bend over and protect the plant. 

 Thus it will be seen that this mode of protection is 

 also useful in preventing the branches of young plants 

 from being broken by the weight of the snow. 



Another and an important object in protection is 

 to keep the plants from the winter's sun. 



Many reputed tender varieties are perfectly hardy 

 if they can be kept in a frozen state all winter. 



We can readily see that in our changeable climate, 

 where the thermometer, at zero at sunrise, may by 

 noon be fifty above zero in the sun, the evergreen 

 leaves of plants are alternately frozen and thawed ; 

 and no doubt can be entertained that it is injurious 

 to the foliage of the plants. 



For this reason, Rhododendrons thrive better on 

 a northern than on a southern exposure ; and varie- 

 ties, which on a bleak northern hUl we never protect, 

 on a lawn sloping to the south are carefully covered 

 each winter. 



While one great object of protection is to shelter 

 the plant from wind and sun, any covering which 

 deprives the plant of a free circulation of light and 

 air is injurious. 



