104 
PARK AND CEMETERY. 
R. maximum, the Great Laurel, is a tall shrub 
sometimes attaining the proportions of a tree. Its 
natural habitat is from Nova Scotia to Georgia 
ascending the mountains continually higher as it 
extends southward. The color ot its flowers is a 
creamy white or light rose. It blooms in June and 
July. 
R. Catawbiense, the Carolina Rhododendron or 
Mountain Rose Bay, is a shrub usually five to ten 
teet but occasionally 20 feet in height. Its flowers 
are a rose-purple and expand in May and June. 
From the mountains of Virginia and West Virginia 
its habitat extends southward through North Caro- 
lina and Tennessee to Georgia, occurring most 
abundant in the Roan mountains of North Caro- 
lina, where its profusion and gorgeous flowers are a 
feature that has given these mountains national 
renown. 
Aside from the lower growing western species 
the only tall growing Rhododendron in America, 
in addition to R'. Catawbiense, is R. maximum. 
The individual flowers of the form^er are broader, 
wider, markedly more abundantly produced, and 
the individual trusses are materially larger and 
more conspicuous. 
Hybrid Rhododendrons are frequently grafted 
on R. Catawbiense, but for stocks the R. ponticum 
is more generally utilized. 
Rhododendron ponticum, coming originally from 
Pontius, Asia Minor, is not as hardy as R. Cataw- 
biense. On this account it is of common occur- 
rence to find that otherwise hardy hybrid varieties, 
if not on their own roots or on Catawbiense, will 
die during the first winter after planting. 
Rhododendron ponticum is reliably hardy as far 
north as Philadelphia, and with protection will 
warrant planting at New York. 
R. Catawbiense is quite hardy at Boston. 
In plantations where vegetation (exclusively 
native) is not required R. Catawbiense is in most 
respects preferable to R. maximum. Especially is 
this preference applicable to the north eastern 
states of America. The comparative cheapness 
and hitherto the availability of the Great Laurel 
probably explains its general use to the exclusion 
of the Catawba Rhododendrons. 
Hardy broad-leaved evergreen shrubs, especially 
those bearing strikingly conspicuous flowers, are 
not as abundant as could be desired. P'or this 
reason the Carolina Rhododendron will always be 
in demand because it is a dwarf and more compact 
than the Great Laurel. 
The successful utilization of Rhododendrons is 
dependent on care in planting and maintenance. 
Firm planting is essential. If they are to be 
planted in specially prepared soil containing peat. 
the peat should be sweetened by exposure to the 
air, but never by the use of lime. After planting 
the soil should be mulched with straw, hay or 
similar material, to a depth of at least six inches. 
Water should be given whenever the soil is moder- 
ately dry. After flowering all the flower stems 
should be broken off just above the terminal leaves. 
Seed bearing is exceedingly devitalizing to Rhodo- 
dendrons. ' Ernil Misclie. 
SARGENT’S WEEPING HEMLOCK. 
{Abies Canadensis Sar^entii petidula.) 
The illustration gives an excellent representa- 
tion of Sargent’s Weeping Hemlock, and was taken 
from a specimen tree in Riverside cemetery, Ashe- 
ville, N. C. 
The parent tree was found growing wild in the 
Fishkill Mountains by Mr. Henry W. Sargent of 
Fishkill on the Hudson, N. Y., and was propagated 
and introduced by him. 
Although in its early life it shows its weeping 
habit, yet its height is easily regulated by giving 
the leader, or central shoot, a support until it 
reaches the desired height. 
As soon as the support is removed its upright 
growth ceases and the leader disappears. The 
growth Is outward and is dense and graceful, and 
as a specimen tree it has scarcely a rival among our 
native evergreens. 
We are indebted to Mr. W. S. Cornell, superin- 
tendent of Riverside cemetery, Asheville, N. C., for 
the photograph and particulars of this handsome 
specimen tree. 
CONSTRUCTION AND DESTRUCTION. 
Naturalistic Gardening which has by far the best 
title to the term “Landscape,” is peculiar among 
arts as being one of modification, not construction. 
The possibilities of any given piece of w'ork are rig- 
orously limited by its area, the funds available, and 
very largely by existing conditions both outside 
and in. Cuttings and fillings cannot be made for 
themselves alone; they must be adapted to levels 
that already exist. Roads and walks can only be 
made as the grades will let them. Planting is lim- 
ited by conditions of space, soil, climate, exposure 
and cost, and so on. And he is the best landscape 
gardener who can adapt the most aesthetic scheme 
to the needs of utility and existing conditions, in- 
stead of adapting existing conditions to his scheme, 
and who can do it at the least expense. So that he 
will seek the opportunities that nature has given 
him, and guard them jealously. He will remember 
that a tree which can be destroyed in half an hour 
with an axe will take a hundred years to replace, 
and a rock that can be rent in a moment by dyna- 
mite can be restored never; thus he will consider 
