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 Rho¬ 
dodendron-growing. 
If convenient 
protect them 
pine or 
Winter 
Protection 
Grandfather Mountain, 6.00D feet elevation. Four miles 
(rom Highlands Nursery 
other evergreen boughs, particu¬ 
larly 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 mulch¬ 
ing 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 then good ventilation must be 
provided. 
Selecting 
the Location 
Second year ihc shade comes off. All 
my Rhododendrons have balh 
For the Rhododendron 
bed select a northern ex¬ 
posure where possible, 
especially at 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 
3 
