Bi Bee 
Where he survives the Rhododendron is the King of the Shrubbery 
vary Rhododendrons~—ernesr u. wuso 
8 
Arnold ~ 
>» Arboretum 
AMERICA’S NEEDS AND THE OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET THEM—WHAT MUST BE DONE TO SHAKE OFF THE 
SHACKLES OF EUROPE’S MODELS, EXCELLENT IN THEIR OWN PLACE BUT UNFITTED TO OUR CLIMATE 
' [Eprror’s Norr.—ZJn this concluding article of a remarkable series, which began last June, Mr. Wilson opens up a vista of great possibilities 
jor the American gardener and throws down the gauntlet. 
HODODENDRONS are in the 
forefront among hardy orna- 
mental shrubs and are warm 
favorites in the gardens of this 
country and of Kurope and more espe- 
cially those of the British Isles. The 
evergreen section with its bold foliage 
and large clusters of handsome flowers 
numbers within its raiks some of the 
noblest of all plants found in the north 
temperate regions. The section with 
deciduous leaves is not surpassed in 
wealth of blossom by any class of hardy 
shrubs. The flowers vary enormously 
in size in the different species and em- 
brace all shades of color except those 
of blue. In many the flowers are de- 
lightfully fragrant and where the cli- 
mate is congenial the season of flower- 
ing is virtually continuous the year 
round. Small wonder then that the 
desire to possess them is so very gen- 
eral. No class of shrubs possesses 
greater attractions and given certain 
essential conditions and provided the 
varieties planted are perfectly hardy 
their culture is fairly simple. But in 
the colder parts of eastern North Amer- 
ica the climate is such that only the 
very toughest of existing varieties sur- 
vive the summer drought and winter 
cold and the need of a more enduring 
race is patent. In this article it is pro- 
posed to go fairly exhaustively over the 
whole field of hardy Rhododendrons and 
*Copyright, 1916, by Doubleday, Page & Co. 
to draw attention not only to a majority 
of the best sorts American gardens pos- 
sess but to delve deeper and point out a 
possible way toward the attainment of a 
race more suitable to the climatic con- 
ditions that obtain. 
The subject has many aspects but 
it may be opened by remarks on the es- 
sential points in the culture of this class 
of plants in general. Evergreen Rho- 
dodendrons are mainly woodland and 
in a measure also alpine plants and they 
must never be allowed to get dry at the 
roots. A situation screened from the 
morning sun and sheltered from cold 
cutting winds and where the roots may 
be kept cool is essential to success. The 
strong sun in March which draws moist- 
ure from the leaves when the ground is 
frozen and the roots perforce incapable 
of making good the loss is a potent 
cause of death. This in conjunction 
with the tender strain in the present- 
day race and the fact that the majority 
are grafted on the not hardy R. ponti- 
cum very thoroughly explains the disap- 
pointment so generally experienced by 
American lovers of these plants, and 
especially those whose gardens are in 
New England. 
If practicable it is best to plant these 
Rhododendrons in association with 
trees; for, by so doing, they receive a 
measure of protection from the sun’s 
direct rays. In thin woods or on the 
288 
The way out is indicated. Who will lead on?] 
margins of such woods are good sites 
and if the situation is open and exposed 
a screen of conifers—Hemlock, White 
or Red Pine—should be afforded them. 
If the situation be such that the roots | 
are kept cool by a thorough water- 
supply, the nature of the soil (always 
provided it does not contain lime) is of 
less importance than is often claimed. 
Where the White and Red Pine, Birch, 
Chestnut and White Oak thrive Rhodo- 
dendrons will grow. A soil free of lime, 
sweet, moist and porous and fairly rich 
in leaf soil is the ideal. A decomposed 
granitic soil rich in humus is excel- 
lent. In the absence of lime, Rhodo- 
dendrons will grow in good loamy soil; 
but it should ever be remembered that 
they are humus-loving plants and re- 
quire to be mulched with leaves and the 
soil enriched with leaf soil or sandy 
peat. It is usually assumed that peat 
is necessary in order to grow these 
plants but as a matter of fact a far 
greater number of the species find a 
home on humus-clad rocks and cliffs 
than in peat swamps. 
In regions where the seasons are 
milder than in New England, these Rho- 
dodendrons will thrive in positions more 
or less fully exposed to the sun; but no 
matter where they are planted they 
must never be allowed to suffer from 
drought. The root system of all Rho- 
dodendrons is fibrous and scarcely de- 
