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F. & F. NURSERY CATALOGUE 



A Mass Grouping of Our Hardy Rhododendrons, Washington Bridge Park, Manhattan. Planted in 1894 



RHODODENDRONS. 



There has been much money and labor 

 wasted in futile efforts to grow Rhododen- 

 drons. These failures are occasioned by a 

 number of reasons. First, the effort to 

 grow sorts that are not hardy in our climate; 

 second, to planting in thin and barren soil, 

 and in exposed situations, where the winds 

 of Winter rapidly evaporate the moisture 

 in the plant. Make your Rhododendron bed 

 deep and rich, and never on any account 

 more than scratch the surface of the soil 

 after planting. The roots are near the 

 surface and digging among them destroys 

 many and exposes all more or less to the in- 

 fluence of drouth and cold. They are moisture- 

 loving plants, and a rich, peaty, well-drained 

 soil suits them best. Mulch your plants well 

 and use cow manure abundantly. 



Rhododendrons make a grand show in Win- 

 ter and Summer alike, with their dark, shining 

 Evergreen foliage, but are particularly attrac- 

 tive in early Summer, when their great masses 

 of bloom of various colors and shades attract 

 the attention of all. Where practicable, we 

 urge their planting in masses, and a good plan 

 is to have the foreground or border plants of 

 Azaleas. The seed pods should be removed 

 after flowering. 



In arranging the larger native Rhododendrons 

 (R. maximum) as a background, these hardy 

 named varieties produce a beautiful and 

 striking effect planted in front toward the 

 grass border. 



Great care has been exercised in including 

 only such varieties as may be relied upon as 

 entirely hardy in the Central and Northern 

 States. And in the severe climate of New 

 England these tested varieties of " ironclad " 

 hardiness succeed with ordinary treatment. 



Rhododendron album elegans 



