220 
THE AMATEUR’S FLOWER GARDEN. 
as it will for the moment appear to the reader, who remembers 
that some of the choicer kinds of rhododendrons are sold at 
ten to thirty shillings for a very small plant, and large trees 
of the more esteemed varieties are sold at from twenty to 
fifty pounds each. Good unnamed seedling plants may be 
obtained at from thirty to fifty shillings per dozen, and first- 
rate named kinds at from half-a-crown to ten shillings a plant. 
For thickening new plantations there is nothing better than 
the common B. jponticmn , which may be obtained at from 
fifteen to fifty shillings per hundred, according to size. In 
planting them in belts or beds, or long sweeping lines, no 
great depth of plants is necessary to create bold effects, 
because, from the dense leafage and tendency to flower freely, 
and the immense trusses of bloom they produce, three, or at 
the most four, plants deep, when they have arrived to a good 
flowering size, will be enough. When marking out the 
positions, the planter ought to have a sufficient knowledge of 
the varieties to foresee at what distances they may be planted, 
so that they do not require moving and rearranging after four 
or five years. In fact, the positions of the named varieties 
ought to be permanent; and the cheaper kinds that are em¬ 
ployed for filling should be removed as soon as ever they can 
be spared. This is far better than planting all the good kinds 
thick enough to form the beds at once, and then having to 
move and rearrange the whole again in a few years. 
The plan presented at page 219 is adapted to a spot an acre 
in extent, but it may be (although less effective) reduced to half 
an acre. If one acre could be spared, it would constitute a 
grand and noble feature where its dimensions could be carried 
into effect without cramping or disfiguring the outlines. It 
may appear at first sight that the extent of grass is too great; 
but, knowing how effective these subjects are, we are quite 
sure there is only just enough greensward shown to create a 
perfect harmony when the trees are in flower. The beds 
should be planted chiefly with the very best of the rhodo¬ 
dendrons, with here and there an azalea, and a few hardy 
heaths for variety. The outside plantations should have a 
back row of rhododendrons, and a mixture of azaleas, rhodo¬ 
dendrons, kalmias, hardy heaths, and andromedas in front. 
A few conifers may be placed singly on the grass, as shown on 
the plan, to give lightness and variety and afford key-points 
to the scene. 
