3127 S. E. 43rd Ave., Portland, Ore. 
3 
The Rhododendrons of the hybrid type are very hardy 
and accommodating, and one need not be very particular 
in finding a place for them. If no other spot can be found 
for them, they succeed well enough fully exposed to the 
sun, although if the weather should be bright and hot during 
the flowering season, there is no doubt that in such a place 
the blossoms do not last long, and neither will the growth 
be so vigorous. 
The ideal place for Rhododendrons of the evergreen type, 
especially the large-leaved species, is undoubtedly one 
where trees provide a certain amount of shade, which is 
especially beneficial if it is cast over the plants in the hot 
middle hours of the day. For those that grow and flower 
early in the season, protection from the early morning sun 
is also desirable. Bright mornings frequently follow cold 
frosty nights in the spring, and a screen from the early rays 
of the sun will sometimes prevent the rapid thawing of 
flower-buds and young growths. 
Besides the protection which trees give to Rhododendrons, 
from a cultural point of view, they have the additional value 
of greatly enhancing the beauty and scenic effects of the 
plants when in bloom. Fortunate is the gardener, therefore, 
who, in addition to the right kind of soil, has on his Rhodo¬ 
dendron plot some suitable trees distributed to give shelter 
and shade. 
Small-leaved evergreen species bear sunshine better than 
the large-leaved ones, which is to be expected; since they 
often occur in nature, covering stretches of treeless moun¬ 
tain country where the only protection they get from the 
sun is given by cloud and mist. 
Many species of Rhododendrons and Azaleas are well 
adapted for the rock garden Positions may undoubtedly 
be found in the average rock garden where a certain limited 
selection of dwarf Rhododendrons and Azaleas can be 
suitably placed. 
The usual recommendation of shade for Rhododendrons 
may generally be disregarded where typical alpine species 
are concerned, and if sufficient surface mulching is provided, 
full exposure to sun will be found beneficial in producing 
compactness of growth and freedom of flower. Advantage 
being merely taken of such comparative shade as will be 
available on slopes facing to the North, and providing for 
certain well-defined species such shelter from mid-day sun 
as may be found desirable. Protection from cutting winds 
is naturally necessary, and this may be overcome by a few 
well-placed wind-resisting conifers or trees. 
Where the general use of alpine Rhododendrons is con¬ 
cerned, no serious cultural problem presents itself. Given a 
reasonable depth of good loam with a generous mixture of 
leaf-mould, success is practically assured. Periodic top 
dressing with similar material will prove an important factor 
in maintaining healthy growth and act as a mulch to con¬ 
serve moisture and provide the cool root-run so essential to 
the development of surface feeding fibres. Little or no 
regular pruning is necessary, but an occasional shortening 
of irregular shoots will tend towards shapeliness of the 
plants. After flowering, it is important to pick off the seed 
pods to enable the plants to form flower buds for next 
season. 
