THE RHODODENDRON. 
193 
THE RHODODENDRON. 
WITH AN ENGRAVING OF R. BUTLERI. 
The noble family to wliicli our present subject belongs is one 
distinguished pre-eminently by the imposing aspect of its several 
members at all seasons : its vigorous style of growth, branching 
in every direction till a dense mass of robust shoots is formed, 
clothed throughout with ample, richly coloured, evergreen foliage, 
render it conspicuous and interesting at all times; but it is in 
the vernal season that Rhododendrons lend a charm to our gar¬ 
dens, which, however well known, is quite indescribable: their 
splendour then is quite unequalled by that of any other tribe, 
and justly entitles them to the epithet, <f Glory of the Hills.” 
Rhododendrons are natives of alpine regions throughout the 
greater part of the world, many of them occurring at the ex¬ 
treme limit of ligneous vegetation, and all of them affecting 
exposed situations. From their wide geographic range there are 
species among them which, when collected together, as in our 
gardens, require a marked difference in their management; yet 
they so easily accommodate themselves to circumstances, that the 
culture of the whole can in no part be considered difficult. A 
trait in the natural character of these plants, which the observa¬ 
tion of many travellers, with whom we have spoken on the sub¬ 
ject, almost invariably confirms, is their predilection for damp 
places; even on the highest mountain ranges, where the Rhodo¬ 
dendron is common, the soil is found to be, though not posi¬ 
tively retentive of water, yet constantly moist, and one of their 
usual stations is the margins of the small pools common to such 
places. This circumstance should be borne in mind, as it forms 
a leading feature in their successful management, and, properly 
observed, will go far to obviate the disappointment frequently 
attending their introduction to unfavorable positions. 
In a cultural sense, the genus may be divided into two classes : 
the European and North American species and their varieties 
forming one, which in our climate is quite hardy, capable of re¬ 
sisting the severest weather, and therefore suitable for ornament- 
ii. 17 
