CIbe mational flurservtnaii 
FOR GROWERS AND DEALERS IN NURSERY STOCK 
The National Nurseryman Publishing Co., Incorporated. 
Vol. XXL ROCHESTER, N. Y., AUGUST, 1913 No. 8 
GROWING RHODODENDRONS 
Rhododendrons are undoubtedly among the finest of 
ornamental plants. It is a great pity that nurserymen in 
the United States do not make an attempt to grow them 
rather than depending almost entirely upon imported stock. 
While they are plants that are not suited to every position 
of them. There is undoubtedly a very' good market for them 
which will never be overstocked. 
Many of the varieties that are imported are not handy 
and are grown mainly for florists for decorative plants rather 
than planting out of doors. 
Rhododendrons Growing on The Wanamaker Estate, at Jenkintown, Pa. 
and location, if conditions are suitable they undoubtedly 
do well in this country. 
The subject of our illustration is a photograph taken on 
a private estate in the vicinity of Philadelphia and one could 
not wish for a more attractive looking lot of plants. 
The surroundings as shown in the photograph are ideal 
for them, the Spruce and Hemlock accompamfing them 
showing the proper plant associations. 
Practically all the hybrids are imported from Europe, 
mainly from Holland and England, but it is high time some 
nursery made an attempt to grow them in this country. 
We believe the old Parson’s Nursery at Flushing, Long 
Island, made great strides along this line but since then 
there does not seem to be any nursery that has taken hold 
If properly grovm in situations that are adapted for them 
they are hardy from at least Boston south. It is not, how¬ 
ever, so much a question of temperature as suitable condi¬ 
tions. The first requirement is a deep, well drained soil, 
absolutely free from lime and alkali and if possible one of a 
peaty nature. The best fertilizer is well rotted cow manure, 
with a liberal supply of sand. This does not mean that they 
do not grow in loamy soils, far from it. Good turfy loam 
that is not too stiff and heavy' wall do almost equally as well. 
One of the essentials is that the ground should be kept 
constantly moist without stagnant water at the roots. 
Unless the ground is exceptionally well drained it is best to 
dig out very deeply, say 2^2 to 3 feet, and put in a layer of 
broken stone or bri9k to insure good drainage. This should 
