Catalogue of Hardy Trees, Shrubs, Etc. 



25 



RHODODENDRONS. 



MASS BORDER OF HARDY RHODODENDRONS. 



The hardy Rhododendrons are now everywhere recognized as the finest of all hardy plants used for 

 ornamental purposes. They are indispensable in giving effectiveness and character to the planting of all 

 ornamental grounds. In Eiirox)e no fine grounds are considered properly planted that do not contain 

 borders or masses of these superb plants. As the really hardy varieties can now be so successfully grown 

 here, the same result wiU obtain in this coimtry. Planted in beds or masses the magnificent coloring of 

 these hardy Rhododendrons, together with the rich foliage, is incomparably fine. Indeed nothing can 

 «xcel the beauty of their massive heads of various colorings for the several weeks they are in bloom. 

 The really hardy Catawbiense varities can be grown with perfect success. 



Although adapted to a shaded situation, they will flourish in any good loamy soil, moderately em-iched 

 with well-rotted leaf mould, cow manui'e or well-rottec* sod. The plants should always be arranged in 

 good sized beds or masses, and, when first planted, set as close as two or tlu-ee feet apart. The beds or 

 borders should not be less than two or three feet deep, and the plants mulched or othe'-wise kept in moist 

 conditi<5n at the roots. The seed pods should be removed every season after the bloom is past. Drought 

 injures the plants more than cold or severe weather. 



Mr. H. H. Hunnewell of Mass., than whom there is no better authority or one who has had larger 

 experience in growing these Rhododendrons, thus confirms tliis statement: " I have found from many 

 years' experience that the great difiiculty in the successful cultivation of the hardy varieties of Rhododen- 

 drons in this country, is in consequence "of their suffering from o\ir hot and di-y weather, and unless one is 

 favored with an unusually moist soil a frequent use of the hose is iudispeusa ble. It is drought that kills 

 the flower buds and plants in most cases, and not the cold weather as is generally imagined." 



This applies to the really hardy kinds such as I have for years sent out. Thousands of half hardy 

 Rhododendrons are annually sent to this country every season from Holland, Belgiiun, France and Ger- 

 many, plants of the Ponticun species, and therefore utterly worthless for planting in the Northern States. 

 The failure of these plants has led to discom'agement with many, whereas with the hardy varieties the 

 result would have been a marked success. 



The plants I furnish are the inherently hardv kinds. Some of the largest and finest plantations now 

 in the country were of this stock, supplied by me. Next to the collection and specimen groups at Mr. 

 Hunnewell's, Wellesley, Mass., there are perhaps no finer mass plantings of these Rhododendrons in the 

 United States than at Mr. W. Bayard Cutting's, Westbrook Farm, Long Island. After several years' ex- 

 perience in using about four thousand of these plants, Mr. Cutting wrote me: 



" I purchased from you several years ago a lot of 1,200 hardy Rhododendrons. They were admirable 

 plants, and I cannot speak too highly of them. So well was I pleased that I purchased from you 2,500 

 more plants. All my purchases of Rhododendrons have been made from you." 



Similar letters are received every season. 



The stock of these plants this year is very fine. 



I offer them, as heretofore, in case collections of 25, 50 and 100 plants to the case. TJiesc cases contain 

 ■a choice selection of the best hardy named varieties of assorted colors for firoup or mass planting, for 

 immediate effect. Particular varieties can be supplied by the hundred or thousand at lowest prices for 

 well-budded, reliable plants. These are the cheapest and best. There is no experiment in trying them. 

 Every plant wUl grow, and will bloom nicely the first season. 



