OTHER AMERICAN PLANTS. 125 



Kalmia LATIFOLIA. 



This is the most showy species, aud is one of the 

 most ornamental of our indigenous plants. It is a 

 tall shrub, sometimes attaining the height of ten 

 feet. In cultivation, however, it is seldom more 

 than half that height, and grows thick and bushy. 

 The foliage is dark shining green, large and orna- 

 mental. 



The flowers vary from pm-e white to deep pink, 

 and thus constitute the varieties of some nursery 

 catalogues. Seedlings vary much in size of the 

 flower, in floriferous qualities, and in form of the 

 corymbs of bloom ; some bearing close, compact 

 masses, others having them very loose and straggling. 



Although a native of our woods, the cheapest 

 and easiest mode of procuring plants is to import 

 them from England, where they are raised from seed 

 in large quantities. Nice, bushy plants, about a foot 

 high, cost only twenty-five dollars per hundred 

 landed here, and, as they grow rapidly, soon form 

 large plants. 



Kalmias mass well with Rhododendrons, and, as 

 they bloom somewhat later, serve to keep up the 

 period of bloom in the bed. We prefer them, how- 

 ever, as specimen plants, or in clumps by them- 

 selves. 



Figured in Bot. Mag. 5, pi. 175 ; Michaux, Arb. 3, 

 pi. 5 ; Big. Med. pi. 13. 



Variety myetifolia is a dwarf - growing plant, 

 with small, shining leaves ; very pretty for the bor- 

 ders of beds. 



