42 THE RHODODENDRON. 



figured every winter. The result is, the plants look 

 badly the greater part of the year, and the flowers 

 are small and poor. These varieties should be dis- 

 carded. A great beauty of the Rhododendron is the 

 foliage; and as a variety which keeps its foliage 

 unliui't occupies no more room, and requires less care 

 than one which is thus partially tender, the hardy 

 varieties should be preferred. Greater attention is 

 now being paid in the production of seedhngs to size 

 and color of foliage, and some of the new kinds are 

 of surpassing excellence in this respect. 



HOUSES FOR WINTER PROTECTION. 



Standard Rhododendrons, even of the hardiest 

 kinds, are liable to have the foliage very much dis- 

 figured by the cutting winds of winter. It is difficult 

 to protect or screen very large plants with cedar- 

 boughs ; therefore we must protect them otherwise. 



"We have found rough houses, made of light boards, 

 to answer this purpose perfectly. 



Those we use vary greatly with the size of the 

 plant : some are so small one man can place them ; 

 others so large it takes half a dozen men to put them 

 in position. 



They are not ornamental, but could easily be 

 made so, though this would increase their weight. 

 The matter of appearance is of little importance, as 

 they are in use only from the middle of December 

 to the first of April. In their construction we must 

 bear in mind that they are not to protect against 

 cold, but only against direct wind ; so we must not 



