a wild rose from the pasture expecting it to rival a 
Dr. Van Fleet. R. maximum has handsome foliage 
which looks well in the mountains, and the small, 
pale flowers are pleasing in desolate places. But in 
the garden R. maximum suffers by comparison with 
its splendid relatives, and is often a failure, out of 
place, unhappy, unsightly. R. catawbiense is some¬ 
what better, but magenta. 
Wild Rhododendrons would seem better left in 
the mountains, giving over the gardens to garden 
hybrids, which can be multiplied as desired without 
despoiling nature. When species are needed -- and 
many of the Asiatics prove even more beautiful than 
hybrids with one skillful enough to grow them -- 
we raise these from seed in the nursery. 
CULTIVATION AND CARE 
All Rhododendrons need an acid, cool, moist soil 
rich in vegetable matter. It must contain no lime 
nor limestone in any form. Whether or not there is 
natural acidity, prepare the ground by digging into 
it a large amount of acid peat or of leafmold from 
oak woods. 
Rhododendrons also prefer sloping ground for 
drainage. Except the pigmy sorts, separately dealt 
