2 
KELSEY'S HARDY AMERICAN RHODODENDRONS 
Winter Protection. If convenient, protect them with pine or other evergreen boughs, par- 
ticularly where exposed to the sun and wind; yet Rhododendrons rarely suffer in the latitude of 
Boston or Buffalo, if properly planted and mulched. 
In the latitude of Ottawa and Quebec, Can.ada, a board fencing may be placed around the edge 
of the bed and much heavier temporary mulching of straw, etc., filled in almost or quite to the tops 
of the plants. It is rarely necessary to build a board cover, except on southern exposures to pre- 
vent sunburn, or with tender varieties not suitable for general planting, and even then evergreen 
boughs are preferable. Good ventilation must be provided. 
Selecting the Location. For the Rhododendron bed, a northern exposure is preferable, 
especiallv in low elevation in the South, or elsewhere where freezing and thawing is quite continual. 
A direct winter sun on the frozen leaves of any broad-leaved evergreen often kills outright or spoils 
the foliage. The north side of the building, wall, woods or hill is always preferable, and wind- 
swept locations should be avoided, unless proper measures are taken to check the heavy winds. 
Limestone Soils Means Death. Most ericaceous plants, and particularly Rhodendrons 
Kalmias, Azaleas, Leucotliocs, Vacciniums, Andiomedas, Galax, Epig;ea and similar species, and 
some Lilies and Ferns will not endure large qu.intities of lime in any form. Permanent satisfactory 
results cannot be had, therefore, in soils impregnated with lime, and, where such conditions exist, 
excavation and filling in with proper materials must be resorted to. Sulfate of magnesia in consid- 
erable quantities is said to be a specific for limestone conditions, but conclusive experiments are yet 
to be made. 
Acid Soil Necessary. In other words acid soil is a requirement for growing Rhododendrons 
and similar plants successfully. The leaf mulch applied annually maintains acid soil conditions 
which otherwise in time might become alkaline. 
In Limestone Regions these ericaceous plants may be grown with good success by excavating 
the bed as described above and filling in with top wood soil, peat and similar material. Spent or 
live tan bark should then be used if available to cover the leaf mulching, it having proved an active 
agent in producing persistant non-alkaline or acid conditions. 
Blueberrry (Vacciniums) Culture will not be successful excepting where the soil is naturally 
acid or at least neutral making it possible to artificially produce an acid condition on a relatively 
large scale. 
Rhododendron catawbiense. True species. This is the hardiest of all Rhododendrons, and 
is native in the high Carolina mountain.s. The hardiest hybrids owe their hardiness to this species. 
Illustration shows a 2 ft. clump the way we grow Rhododendrons for results. Everything con- 
sidered catauobiense is the best of all. 
