KELSEY’S HARDY AMERICAN RHODODENDRONS 
PRICES ARE AT BOXFORD NURSERY 
In the latitude of Ottawa and Quebec, Canada, a board fencing may be placed around the edge 
U of the bed and much heavier temporary mulching of straw, etc., filled in almost or quite to the tops 
h of the plants. It is rarely necessary to build a board cover, except on southern exposures to prevent 
U sunburn, 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 the foliage. The north side of the building, wall, woods, or hill is always preferable, and 
wind-swept locations should be avoided, unless proper measures are taken to check the heavy winds. 
Limestone Soils Wean Death. Most ericaceous plants, and particularly Rhododendrons* 
Kalmias, Azaleas, Leucothoes, Vacciniums, Andromedas, Galax, Epiga:*a and similar species, and 
some Lilies and Ferns will not endure large quantities of lime in any form. Permanent satisfactorv 
results cannot be had, therefore, in soils impregnated with lime. and. 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. An acid-soil condition must be maintained. 
ENEMIES OF THE RHODODENDRON 
Rhododendrons, Kalmias and similar plants have very few enemies. The only serious one is 
the Lace-wing Fly, which is native from New England throughout the Alleghanies, and is found on 
Kalrnia anguslifolta. Rhododendron maximum, and Kalmia lalifolia. This pest appears in early 
spring on the under side of the leaves and gets its sustenance by sucking the sap. The leaves turn 
brown, giving the plant a ragged, unkempt appearance. It is easily disposed of by spraying the 
under side of the leaves, using a very fine nozzle, with an emulsion of ten gallons of whale-oil soap 
to one hundred gallons of water. While the Lace-wing Fly is more at home on Rhododendron maxi¬ 
mum, it does not hesitate to attack all other species to a greater or less extent. Plants in the shade 
arc rarely infested to any great degree. 
‘FILLERS 55 —PLANTS TO BE USED WITH 
RHODODENDRONS 
For the best landscape effects, as well as providing a continual succession of bloom throughout 
the season, and actually protecting the Rhododendrons and supplying a “feathered” edge to the 
ground, a large variety of shrubs and plants may be employed with the finest results. In fact, the 
clear planting of Rhododendrons without the use of“filler ” or “edging” plants gives harsh, formal 
effects, which are neither desirable nor natural in any way. In the use of “fillers” great care must 
be taken as to time of blooming and color effects, so they do not clash. It is surprising how many 
“filler” plants can be used without detracting from the broad evergreen effect, and yet supplying 
an amazing amount of interesting detail and a continuous show of blossoms against a beautiful 
Rhododendron leaf background. 
SOME OF THE BEST “FILLERS 55 AND “EDGING PLANTS 55 
Andromeda polifolia, Chamoedaphnc calyculata, Leiophyllum buxifolium, L. prostratum, Ilex 
glabra, Leucothoe catesboei, Pieris floribunda, Ericas, Callunas, Taxus canadensis, Galax aphylla, 
Gaulthcria procumbcns, Houstonia serpyllifolia, Mitchella repens, Shortia galacifolia, Vinca minor, 
V. minor alba, Zanthorhiza apiifolia, Lilies, Trilliums, Erythroniums, Violets, Ferns in great variety, 
Dicontra cximia, Iris, Azaleas, Ilex verticillata, Aronia arbutifolia, and many other berry-bearing 
shrubs. 
SAMPLE LIST OF MATERIALS USED IN A SMALL BUT 
SUCCESSFUL RHODODENDRON BED 
Garden of Mr. George W. Meith, Hubbard Woods, III. 
This planting was made from suggestions and stock furnished by I-Iarlan P. Kelsey, but an 
edging of violets was supplied from customer’s own grounds. The planting proved a successful 
typical grouping at a minimum cost, of broad-leaved evergreens and “filler plants,” which might be 
varied indefinitely at the will of the planter, 
i Rhododendron maximum, 2 to 3 ft., clump. 
3 Rhododendron maximum, 1% to 2 ft. 
10 Rhododendron maximum, 1 to 1 X A ft., clumps. 
1 Rhododendron carolinianum, 1 to 1* ' 2 ft.. 
dump. 
2 Rhododendron catawbicnsc, 2 to 3 ft., clumps. 
10 Rhododendron catawbicnsc, 0 to 18 in., clps. 
5 Kalmia latifolia, 1 to 1' j ft. chimps. 
10 Kalmia latifolia, 6 to 0 in., clumps. 
10 Leucothol? catesbrei, 6 to 12 in., clumps. 
10 Aronia arbutifolia. 2 to 3 ft. 
30 Zanthorhiza apiifolia, 6 to 12 in., clumps. 
5 Kuonymus radicans. 
1 Ampelopsis cngchnanni. 
25 Dryopteris, in variety. 
10 Eupatorium ageratoides. 
3 Azalea arborescens, 1 to 1 1 < ft., clumps. 
10 Azalea nudiflora, 6 to 12 in., clumps. 
5* Azalea vaseyi, 6 to 12 in., clumps. 
2 Pieris (Andromeda) floribunda, 6 to 12 in., 
clumps. 
10 Aronia nigra. 1 to 2 ft. 
5 Clethra alnifolia, 1 to 2 ft. 
1 Chionanthus virginica. 3 to 4 ft* 
5 Azalea viscosa, 1 X A to 2 ft. 
20 Lilium superbum, first size. 
20 Lilium canadense, first size. 
Total cost, $65.90. 
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