1871. ] 
THE RHODODENDRON AS A CONSERVATORY PLANT. 
151 
conservatory, and deserves one or more houses for itself in all large establish¬ 
ments. 
Those who have seen magnificent plants of E. arboreum and its varieties 
in full glory at Christmas will readily endorse this statement. Many years ago I 
had the charge of two very fine plants,—one being arboreum itself, and the other 
the rose-coloured variety of the same. The former was a large bushy plant in a 
tub. It stood at one end of the conservatory—which it almost filled ; while on 
either side of it there was room for a good-sized plant of Azalea indica alba. The 
Rhododendron flowered, without any forcing, towards the end of December. I have 
counted two hundred trusses on it on Christmas Day. The Azaleas were forced to be 
open at the same time. The effect was marvellous. The Rhododendron seemed 
like a mountain of fire rising majestically from a snow-clad base. The effect was 
heightened by six noble plants of double-white Camellias, which extended 
along the front of the conservatory. One-half, at least, of these, bending 
with the weight of their blossoms, came within the same field of vision as 
the glowing masses of arboreum. The house was a large domed ridge-and- 
furrow roofed conservatory. In the centre of this dome stood the other Rhodo¬ 
dendron, taller by far than the arboreum, but in no other respects equal 
to it. This was, of course, seen from all parts of the house, and by the force 
of contrast increased the purity of the other white Camellias and huge masses of 
Azalea that filled, as it were, with a snow-wreath the other side of the house; 
their simple contrasts can never be forgotten. To have removed the Rhododen¬ 
drons from that house must have ruined the effect utterly. Their masses and their 
brilliance lighted up even common green leaves with a glow of beauty. Every 
one was charmed with the Rhododendrons, the Azaleas, the Camellias, and they 
seemed to see nothing else. In fact, many seemed to see nothing but the Rhodo¬ 
dendrons. These, again, by the force of contrast, bleached the white Camellias 
and Azaleas whiter still. And yet we see the latter everywhere, and the former 
scarcely anywhere, at least, of any great size, though few plants are cheaper to 
purchase, easier to grow, more certain to flower, and longer-lived than Rhododen¬ 
drons. They can hardly be said to need any attention at all, except watering in 
dry weather, for more than about six months in the year. 
All the E. arboreum section may remain out-of-doors from May to October, and 
the others only need the treatment of hardy green-house plants ; and yet hardy 
as they are, this transition from under glass to the open is attended with danger. 
The plants mostly root outside the balls of earth, and these roots are very easily 
checked and injured. Therefore, if pots or tubs are moved from under glass and 
exposed suddenly to the sun, such roots—and they are the life of the plants— 
perish. The same remark is applicable to surface roots. Safety to both comes by 
mulching and plunging,—cover the surface with four inches of cocoa-fibre refuse, 
and plunge the pots in the same. If tubs cannot be plunged, wrap them round 
with thick canvas, or- stand them inside a second tub, filling the top of the 
