16 
Other species and hybrids well worth the attention of plant lovers 
who find pleasure in surrounding themselves with hardy trees and 
shrubs are the Japanese Malus micromalus, the Chinese M. toringoides 
and M. transitoria^ and Malus sublotata, a hybrid of uncertain origin, 
which is now the tallest of the Crabapples in the collection, and prom¬ 
ises to become a large tree. This hybrid is particularly attractive in 
the autumn when it is covered with bright yellow fruits. 
Rhododendron Schlippenbachii opened its first flowers this year on 
Azalea Path May 5th and earlier than those of any other Azalea in the 
collection. It is one of the commonest shrubs of Korea and is often 
the dominant undergrowth in open woods. From Korea it crosses into 
northeastern Manchuria where it grows on the shores of Possiet Bay; 
it occurs, too, in two localities in northern Japan. Wilson found it 
extremely abundant in Korea on the lower slopes of Chirisan and on the 
Diamond Mountains, which were when he visited this region early in 
July “a wonderful sight with literally miles and miles of the purest 
pink from the millions of flowers of this Azalea.” In Korea this Azalea 
on the wind-swept, grass-covered cliffs of the coast grows less than a 
foot high and is covered with flowers. In the forests of the interior it 
often grows to a height of fifteen feet and forms a tall and slender or a 
broad and shapely shrub. The leaves are large for those of an Azalea, 
being from three and a half inches to four inches long and sometimes 
nearly three inches wide, and are arranged in whorls of five at the end 
of the branches. This plant grows further north than any other Azalea 
with the exception of the North American Rhodora. The thermometer 
in the region of Diamond Mountains usually registers every winter a 
temperature of 35° to 40° below zero Fahrenheit, There is therefore 
no reason why this Azalea should not flourish in the coldest parts of 
New England. It has flowered now for several years in the Arboretum, 
and planted in an exposed sunny position has never suffered. Its har¬ 
diness and the beauty of its flowers make it one of the most valuable 
shrubs if not the most valuable, which northeastern North America 
has obtained from northeastern Asia. The flowers are perhaps more 
beautiful than those of any other Azalea. The plant and the flower- 
buds are hardy but young plants grown in frames start to grow so early 
that if they are transferred to the open ground in the spring the young 
growth is often killed by frost. It is therefore wise to move them 
from the nursery to the open ground in the autumn; slightly protected 
the young plants come safely through the winter and do not start to 
grow in the open ground until the danger of frost has passed. Even 
better results are obtained by potting young plants in the autumn, 
keeping them In a deep frame or pit during the winter and allowing 
them to finish their year’s growth in the pots before they are planted 
out. The young plants make only one growth during the season and 
are certainly more difficult to manage than most Azaleas, but this Korean 
plant is worth a great deal more trouble than it takes to get it started. 
Virburnum Carlesii is already in bloom in the collection on the Bus¬ 
sey Hill Road. This hardy Korean shrub with white, delightfully fra¬ 
grant flowers in small, compact clusters, opening from rose-pink buds, 
always attracts attention and is fast becoming known in American 
gardens. With the exception of the American Hobble Bush, it is the 
earliest of the Viburnums to flower. 
