RHODODENDRONS 
The glory of every place possessing Rhododendrons is their superb bloom in 
the latter part of May and early June. The magnificent coloring and huge clusters 
of flowers in so many shades of pink, violet, rose, purple and delicate creamy white 
give them the first place among evergreen shrubs. The principal feature of every 
fine place in England is a collection of these plants. Surely we Americans ought 
to appreciate and prize them even more, when our mountain ravines and brook- 
sides are transformed into fairyland every summer by the bloom of our native Rho¬ 
dodendrons, growing and flowering in such masses, and which can be reproduced on 
private grounds. Their beautiful foliage is also most effective in the dull winter 
months, when its glossy green adds beauty to otherwise bare shrubbery. 
The great decorative value of Rhododendrons is now fully recognized, and 
every § year increases their popularity. This has been much hindered by the fact 
that so many of the most strikingly brilliant colors were not hardy in our climate, 
the heat and dryness of the summer and extreme cold of the winter usually proving 
fatal to them. But during the last ten years we have expended much time and 
money in selecting a few varieties that will combine hardiness and brilliancy of 
color; and the results have been so satisfactory that now we have several exquisite 
colors in our collection, which a short time ago would have been impossible in this 
climate. Our plants are fully acclimated now, as they have stood the severest 
winters in our Nurseries. Of these hardy varieties the finest are the Hybrids of 
Catawbiense, and from these our stock is especially selected. 
CULTURAL Directions. —In choosing a location for a bed of Rhododen¬ 
drons, care should be taken to select a place sheltered from the force of prevailing 
winds. The earth should be dug out of the bed to the depth of z x A feet, care 
being taken to lay aside the top soil and remove all clay. Procure, if possible, good 
surface soil from some old pasture ; add this to the soil laid aside; mix thoroughly, 
and with this fill in the excavation. After the planting is done, cover the surface 
of the ground with well-rotted cow manure to the depth of 3 or 4 inches. This 
not only enriches the soil, but aids very much in keeping the earth damp during hot 
weather. This mulching should be dug into the bed every spring, using a garden 
fork, so as not to injure the fibrous roots of the plants, and renewed every season 
about the middle of July. The first year Rhododendrons are planted they should 
be liberally watered, in the event of a dry spell of weather. Plant in the spring or 
early fall, and in the late autumn a covering of leaves 10 to 12 inches deep is a good 
protection and very beneficial. While Rhododendrons are most effective in masses, 
they should not be crowded, as each one, if given space, will form a shapely plant; 
so, if the bed becomes crowded, it is best to transplant some of them, as they lift 
very easily and with perfect safety, even when large. 
We take great pleasure in inviting all admirers of Rhododendrons to visit our 
Nurseries during the latter part of May and very early days of June, when our fine 
collection of over five thousand plants is in the beauty of full bloom. Selections 
may be made more intelligently when the plants themselves are before one. 
Rhododendron Catawbiense. One of our most beautiful native varieties, 
indigenous from New England to the Southern Allcghanics. Leaves oval and 
oblong, of a dark glossy green. The flowers, produced in early June, are lilac- 
purple, in large and impressive heads. This fine American evergreen shrub 
is one of the best of all Rhododendrons, and perfectly hardy. It is the con¬ 
trolling parent of numerous fine hybrid forms, worked out by skilful Euro¬ 
pean growers, a selection of which we present on the following page. (See 
plate on page 30.) 
R. Catawbiense, var. alba. A form with bluish white flowers. 
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