110 



PRACTICE OF GARDENING. 



or common garden-soil. But, almost equal in importance 

 to soil, is the situation in which they are planted ; for, 

 where they are exposed to the full blaze of a spring or 

 summer sun, the leaves become brown and sickly, and the 

 whole plant frequently perishes from drought, even though 

 water should be daily supplied ; for no artificial watering 

 will preserve the plants during a dry season, in such a 

 situation, except they be planted in a wet and clayey soil, 

 which is equally as injurious as drought. A sheltered and 

 shaded situation is, therefore, most suitable for rhodo- 

 dendrons ; and if this shelter and shade can be afforded 

 by a wall or high hedge, it is far preferable to planting them 

 under large trees. A border, which has a northern aspect, 

 and is backed by a wall, is admirably adapted for this 

 purpose : and, though such a situation is by no means 

 indispensable, yet the plants will be found to flourish 

 better the more this particular is attended to. 



Where they are unavoidably planted in an open, exposed 

 plot of ground, it will be necessary to water them fre- 

 quently in the spring and early part of the summer, if the 

 weather is dry, otherwise their flower-buds will wither 

 and never expand themselves : but if they are placed in 

 the situation here recommended, this attention will be 

 seldom necessary, as the soil, by being shaded, will be 

 kept sufficiently moist. 



These remarks are equally applicable to kalmias, andro- 

 medas, and all similar plants, which likewise require moist 

 heath-soil and shade to grow and flower them in perfection. 

 But there are others, such as heaths, menziesias, whortle- 

 berries, rock-roses, and sun-roses, which, instead of requir- 

 ing shade, cannot be placed in too exposed a situation, as 

 they grow naturally on open moors, or rocks, and seem to 

 delight in receiving the most vigorous and scorching rays 

 of the sun. These, also, with the exception of the two 

 latter, grow best in a peat soil or bog earth ; but the rock- 

 roses and sun-roses will thrive well in any poor soil that is 

 not retentive of moisture, and if pieces of rock, soft stone, 

 or chalk, are mingled with the soil, the plants will grow 

 and flower much better. All the species of these latter 

 genera are exceedingly ornamental, as they produce a great 

 abundance of flowers of various colours, and are of \ery 



