12 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 
dendrons of Borneo offers the best, and a very curious, 
analogy. His words are very striking : — ^According to my 
personal observations it appears that almost every moun- 
tain top in Borneo has its own special forms, which do 
not seem to spread themselves, at least on the adjoining 
mountains.' " 
In the following pages, whilst the species are printed in 
italics, the hybrids are in Roman type, whether they are 
known by latinised names or not. 
ECONOMIC PROPERTIES 
The economic uses of Rhododendron are not important. 
According to Professor Sargent, they possess bitter, astrin- 
gent, and narcotic properties. A decoction of R. chrysan- 
thum is employed in Siberia in the treatment of rheumatism 
and other affections of the joints and muscles, and is now 
used in some European countries for the same purpose. The 
buds of R, ferrugineum are used in Northern Italy in the 
preparation of an anti-rheumatic liniment, and in the United 
States a decoction of the leaves of R. maximum is occasion- 
ally used for the same purpose. Honey obtained from the 
flowers is believed to be poisonous, yet the flowers of the 
Indian R. arbor eum are eaten fresh or made into a conserve, 
although the buds and young leaves are said to be poison- 
ous to cattle. Goats and sheep have been poisoned by the 
leaves of R. cinnaharinum and R. afghanicum. The dried 
leaves of R. campanulatum are used in India as snuff, and 
the leaves of R. lepidotum and R, anthopogon as stimulants. 
The Chinese use the leaves of various species to adulterate 
tea. In this country Rhododendrons are not usually eaten 
by animals, not even by rabbits and hares, but when they 
have been eaten by accident their effect has been noxious. 
