TREES AND SHRUBS. 
415 
yellow and orange shades of the latter contrasting finely 
with the richer tones of the rhododendrons. The best 
time to plant or transplant is in May or September. 
Care must be taken that the roots never suffer from drought, 
and the best way to guard against this is to annually top-dress 
in winter with leaf-mould and rotten manure. In very dry 
seasons the short lawn mowings maj also be applied as a 
mulch. A copious watering during long periods of drought 
will also be beneficial When the plants have flowered remove 
the seed pods from choice kinds. As to pruning, the less 
of this the better; but in the case of large overgrown bushes 
of the commoner kinds, we have cut these back to within a 
foot of the soil in April, and in three or four years obtained 
fine, handsome bushes laden with flowers. The great secret 
in growing these shrubs successfully is to plant in peat, or 
peat and loam free from lime ; mulch liberally as advised, and 
never allow the roots to get dry. As to propagation this may 
be effected by seeds sown in sandy peat in a cold frame in 
spring, the seedlings being transplanted into pans and finally 
into pots, and kept in the frame for a year or so, then planted 
out. In some districts rhododendrons reproduce themselves 
freely from seed. The other method is by layering in autumn. 
Cuttings are difficult to root, and grafting is not a desirable 
mode, as such plants are short-lived. 
Rhodothamnus (Ground Cistus). — A dwarf alpine 
evergreen shrub, formerly known as Rhododendron chamse- 
cistus and now as Rhodothamnus Chamaecistus. It belongs to 
the heath order (Ericaceae), and is a native of the Austrian 
Alps. The flowers are pink and borne in May. Height 6in. 
This somewhat rare shrub should be grown in moist peat on 
a partially shady rockerv. Plant in May. Increased by layer- 
ing the shoots in autumn. 
Rhodotypos (White Jew’s Mallow). — R. kerrioides, the 
only species of this genus, is a charming deciduous flowering 
shrub from Japan. It belongs to the Rose order (Rosaceae), 
grows 5 to ioft. high, and bears white flowers in May. It is 
not unlike the Jew’s Mallow (Kerria), and, like the latter, may 
be grown in similar soil and in a similar position. In fact, the 
cultural details given for the latter apply equally to the present 
shrub. 
Ribes (Flowering Currant). — Hardy flowering deciduous 
shrubs of American origin, and belonging to the Saxifrage 
order (Saxifragaceae). R. sanguineum is one of our commonest 
flowering shrubs. It grows 5 to ioft. high, and bears deep 
rose flowers in drooping racemes in May. Of this there is 
