25 



CHOICE HARDY RHODODENDRONS. 



The World's Fair Medal was awarded me over all competitors for the finest 

 and most complete collectLou of Rhododendrons at the E.\i»osition. 



Those who saw my exhibit at the Chicago Exposition during the time the Rhododendrons were in 

 flower have a much better idea of the beauty obtained from such collections and arrangement than can 

 be derived from any description. 



The medal for this exhibit was not only awarded me over all competitors, but competent judges, con- 

 versant with the finest Rhododendron exhibitions that have been given abroad at the great Expositions in 

 Europe for a number of years past, pronounced my exhibit one of the best of the kind ever given. 



These hardy Rhododendrons are now generally admitted to be the finest of all hardy plants used for 

 ornamental pui-poses. For several years they have been one of my leading specialties. I have sent out 

 thousands of these fine plants for a number of years past, and they have invariably given general satis- 

 faction. I recommend them for planting wherever fine shrubs are appreciated. No park, private estate 

 or other ornamental grounds can obtain the best attainable efi'ects without suitable collections or masses, 

 and no lawn or border is complete without them. 



Nothing can excel the beauty of theii- massive heads of bloom and rich foliage, and if properly 

 massed in beds or borders there is no difficulty in growing them with success in this cUmate. The really 

 hardy varieties, like the parent Catawbiense species, are inherently hardy, and will flourish in any good 

 loamy soil, moderately enriched with fibrous material like leaf-mold or rotted sod. They usually succeed 

 best in partially shaded situations; mulching is always advisable, and in exposed locations the protection 

 of a few evergreen boughs, suflicient to keep off the sun and wind in winter, is often advantageous. The 

 seed pods should in all cases be removed soon after flowering. 



Ti'eated in this way, there is no occasion for the loss of a single plant — not a failure having occurred in 

 some of my largest shipments of several thousand plants. My plants are all carefully selected, and are the 

 strictly hardy varieties adapted for this climate; and my facilities for supplying these are unsurpassed, if 

 equalled, by any one in the trade, considering either quality or price. Many foreign plants, offered by 

 some nurserymen and dealers at "great bargains," are really the mDst expensive in the end, as such plants 

 are for the most pai't of the Ponticum strain of vaiieties, quite lacking in hardiness and utterly worthless 

 for permanent planting in all localities north of Washington. Such plants are, therefore, both misleading 

 and unsatisfactory. Hundreds have procured these half-hardy plants with inevitable failure as the result, 

 and then regret they "cannot succeed in growing Rhododendi'ous," whei'eas had a proper selection been 

 made there would have been success instead of failure. On the other hand some local growers, who have 

 only their limited stock of plants to offer, claim gi-eat superiority for them over far better plants grown in 

 other localities. 



As with many other things, " the best are the cheapest, " and the prmcipal question is not where 

 hardy Rhododendrons are grown, but how ? Those who have planted most extensively invariably make 

 this question of quality the first consideration. The magnificent effects produced at the fine estates of 

 Messrs; W. Bayard Cuttmg and W. K. Vanderbilt, on Long Island; Mr. Edward D. Adams, Seabright, 

 N. J. ; Fairmount Park grounds, Philadelphia ; Prospect Park, Bi'ooklyn; the Woodlawn Cemetery, this 

 city, and in many other fine gi-ounds in different parts of the counti-y (where many if not all the plants 

 were supplied by me) , show the advantage in procuring the best hardy varieties and best quality of this 

 class of stock. 



The letters of commendation I have received from patrons to whom I have sent hundreds and thou- 

 sands of these plants also indicate the pleasure to be ilerived from the use of reliable material of this kind. 



In order to extend, the more general use of these fine hardy Rhododendrons, I again offer them at 

 reducetl prices. For convenience of selection at these prices I have collection.s — cases of 2.5, 50 and 100 



PLANTS EACH, EACH CASE CONTAINING A SELECTION OF THE BEST HARDY KINDS OF DISTINCT COLORS, 



AND READY FOR IMMEDIATE PLANTING. The plants are well budded, and, as they are taken up with a 

 liall of earth about the roots, they flower perfectly and most effectively, without injury, the first season. 



The cases are forwarded direct without breakage or any exposure ; in this way the plants are sure to 

 an-ive at destination in perfect condition, and proper treatment afterward will invariably insure success. 



These cases of 25, 50 and 100 plants, as above, will be supplied at the 100 rate. 



All vour plants turned out flue. Rhododendrons are very fine, just in bloom. I shall order more trees in autumn. 

 New Britain, Conn. J. a.. TRAUT. 



