52 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 
the Dell there. They are quite healthy and make good 
growth annually; but as the flowers expand early in the 
year; they are therefore often spoiled by a comparatively 
slight frost. In a way this plant is hardy; yet for garden 
purposes it must be classed with those that require pro- 
tection. In the same way R, ciliatum is hardy enough 
at KeW; but its flowers are generally spoiled by frost. In 
Cornwall it is as happy and floriferous as any plant 
could be. 
The shelter afforded by a belt of trees on the east and 
north is a great help to these Rhododendrons — in fact; the 
majority of garden sorts succeed best when they have 
partial shade and shelter ; at any rate this applies to all the 
Himalayan species and those hybrids and seedlings which 
have Himalayan blood in them. An ideal place for them 
is the Dell at Kew, a long, winding walk with grass banks 
rising on both sideS; flanked by deciduous trees. Here 
they are sheltered from cold; cutting winds in spring; a 
certain amount of shade from bright sunshine is afforded; 
and the air is always fairly moist; partly owing to the situa- 
tion being low and close to the rivei*; the trees also doing 
their share in keeping off drying winds. Rhododendrons 
may frequently be seen thriving in open; somewhat exposed 
situations; such; for example; as the Knap Hill Nursery; 
which lies low and is almost a swamp in placeS; the soil 
being black, sandy peat ; consequently the atmosphere 
is always charged with moisture, and this is a prime 
factor in providing Rhododendrons with what they most 
require. 
What has been said with respect to the treatment of 
Himalayan Rhododendrons applies also to those hybrids 
and seedlings bred from R, catawbiense, R, ponticum, R, 
