CHAPTER V 
FAMOUS COLLECTIONS 
There are many large collections of Rhododendrons in the 
United Kingdom, some remarkable chiefly for the number 
of interesting species and varieties they contain ; others for 
their wealth of select garden forms ; others, again, on account 
of the exceptional vigour, amounting almost to excessive 
fatness, of the plants ; and still others in which interest, 
variety, and exuberant health are all combined. 
Among national collections, Kew of course is an easy 
first. Most of the species are in cultivation there, not all of 
them, however, in the best of health ; still, the variety of con- 
ditions provided at Kew afford exceptional opportunities for 
the successful cultivation of almost all the Rhododendrons. 
Those that are not represented at Kew are not known to be 
in cultivation anywhere else. There are Rhododendrons in 
the Philippines, a dozen species at least, and as many more 
have been recently discovered in New Guinea. Some of 
these are evidently well worth introducing as garden plants, 
but they are not obtainable at present. The Chinese trea- 
sures, thanks to intelligent collectors, are being introduced 
into cultivation almost as fast as they are discovered. 
The Azalea Garden at Kew is in June one of the most 
lovely floral displays to be seen anywhere ; nor are there many 
better exhibitions of the hardy evergreen Rhododendrons 
than is to be seen every summer in the Rhododendron dell, 
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