RHODODENDRONS 



a short one, but it is conservative and based on the 

 experience of nearly two generations in America. 



There are several other species of rhododendrons 

 which are dwarf and very hardy, Rhododendron 

 punctatum from the mountain slopes of North 

 Carolina, Rhododendron ferrugineum, and R. hir- 

 sutum from the European Alps, From the Cauca- 

 sus come at least two hardy species, Smirnoi and 

 Ungerni, with foliage like tiie Edelweiss or Alpen 

 snowflower. Rhododendron Wilsonii is an attract- 

 ive species. All of these are extremely hardy. 

 From China come several hardy species, notably 

 Rhododendron Kaempferii, which has been tested 

 for a number of years in the Arnold arboretum. 

 Still others may be expected from the same source. 



The character of soil has much to do with 

 the success of rhododendrons. In the woods a 

 sandy soil covered with plenty of leaves seems 

 to favor them„ doubtless because it enables the 

 wood to ripen properly. In cultivated grounds 

 where humus is usually deficient the addition of 

 a strong soil containing plenty of clay and a good 

 modicum of organic matter is best suited to their 

 development. On the other hand, it should not 

 have too much stimulating manure where the 

 easily liberated ammonia tends to produce a 

 succulent growth in the latter part of the summer 

 and even in autumn, which exposes it to injury 

 during the following winter and spring. This 

 stimulation also leads to an overgrowth of leaf 

 buds instead of flower buds. 



The surest way to obtain a healthy, vigorous, 



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