K&ls&y's Hardy American Pletnts 
Never remove this mulching, but let it remain the year round, and every fall add a new 
layer of similar depth. A foot of leaves in the fall means but a half-inch or so of humus the 
coming season—the future food of the Rhododendrons or Azaleas. A dressing of loam and 
well-rotted manure should be used to hold down the fresh leaves till they begin to decay. 
The leaves keep the surface cool in summer and warm in winter. This is the great 
secret of Rhododendron-growing. 
WINTER PROTECTION. If convenient, protect them with pine or other 
evergreen boughs, particularly where exposed to the sun and wind; yet Rhododendrons 
rarely suffer in the latitude of Boston or Buffalo, if properly planted and mulched. 
In the latitude of Ottawa and Quebec, Canada, a board fencing may be placed 
around the edge of the bed and much heavier temporary mulching of straw, etc., filled 
in almost or quite to the tops of the plants. It is rarely necessary to build a board 
cover, except on southern exposures to prevent sun-burn, or with 
tender varieties not suitable for general planting, and even then 
evergreen boughs are preferable. Good ventilation must be 
provided. 
SELECTING THE LOCATION. For the Rhododendron 
bed, select a northern exposure where possible, especially in low 
elevations in the South, or elsewhere where freezing and thawing 
is quite continual. A direct winter sun on the frozen leaves of 
any broad-leaved evergreen often kills outright, or spoils foliage. 
The north side of the building, wall, woods or hill is always pre¬ 
ferable, and wind-swept locations should be avoided. 
LIMESTONE SOILS MEAN DEATH. Most ericaceous 
plants, and particularly Rhododendrons, Azaleas. Kalmias, Leu- 
cothoes, Andronicdas, Galax, Epigrea and similar species, and 
some Lilies and Ferns will not endure large quantities of lime in 
any form. Permanent satisfactory results cannot be had, there¬ 
fore, in soils strongly impregnated with lime where such conditions exist. 
EXCAVATION and filling in with proper materials must be resorted to. Sulfate of magnesia in consider¬ 
able quantities is said to be a specific for limestone conditions, but conclusive experiments are yet to be made 
and will be reported to my customers later. 
WOODS AND MASS PLANTINGS. Where large mass plantings arc made in woods, using large clumps, 
it may be necessary only to see that the ground is fairly porous and rich, with otherwise little or no preparation. 
Such plantings should of course be mulched, as above described, and splendid results should follow. 
Maximum Catawbiense Punctatum 
Types of Rhododendron leaves shoe¬ 
ing comparative sizes 
Rhododendrons, Kalmias, Andromedas, and Other 
Hardy Broad-leaved Evergreens 
The heights of all trees and plants are carefully given immediately after the names—the first 
figures indicating the height the species usually attains in cultivation, the second indicating its 
extreme growth in a wild state. Under favorable cultivation the height may often exceed the first figures 
considerably, so the information must be considered approximate. We have endeavored to avoid long descriptions 
and to give information of value, such as time of flowering, color of flowers and foliage, fall and winter effects 
of leafage, fruit and bark, and kind of soil in which difficult species may be expected to thrive. 
RHODODENDRON CATAWBIENSE Of the Carolina Mountains 
THE HARDIEST RHODODENDRON KNOWN 
It hi this magnificent Rhododendron that over a hundred years ago was introduced into Europe, sup¬ 
plying, together with Rhododendron maximum and R. punclatum. color and hardy bloo 1 to the cultivated 
"hybrids," but with a consequent loss of hardiness; and so today, for American gardens where ironclad 
hardiness Is essential, we must turn to the true original species, found on the loftiest, coldest peaks of the 
southern Alleghanles, where It attains a height of 20 to 30 feet. 
Kalraia latifolia, as nature plants it 
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