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RHODODENDRONS AT LOGAN, WIGTOWNSHIRE. 
Contributed by Kenneth McDouall. 
To go back many years, Rhododendron “ altaclarense ” was planted here 
in considerable quantity about 1860, so the plants are about 60 years old. They 
now form very large specimens and have mostly been planted in groups. 
Branching from the ground into several trunks, many are now over 25 feet in 
height, still growing upwards, covered with magnificent foliage, and in April and 
May they always flower well. At that time of year they make a wonderful show. 
The flowers on the different plants vary somewhat, the best form ha\’ing a well¬ 
shaped truss and large individual flowers of a good crimson red ; others are not 
so nice in colour having a pink or purple tone which gives a less pleasing effect; 
others again have a small truss and open later. The measurements of some of 
these plants may be of interest. One, standing alone, has a single trunk vdth a 
girth of four feet measured two feet from the ground, it then branches into three 
large stems ; its height is 18 feet, and it has a circumference of 102 feet round the 
bush. Another reaches 28 feet in height, and has four trunks, the largest of which 
has a girth of three feet measured three feet from the ground. The tallest is 
30 feet in height, and has five trunks, the largest wth a girth of two feet six 
inches measured six feet from the ground. These Rhododendrons seldom blow 
down or break with the wind, but when they reach a very large size they 
sometimes fall, breaking off at the base of the trunk quite suddenly and without 
any apparent cause, for when this does occur, it takes place in cahn weather in 
the early spring. I lost a fine plant of R. “ altaclarense ” some years ago in 
this way, and the only one of its colour, which was a dark plum-red. Since then, 
others have fallen in a like manner. Is it that the wood becomes brittle when 
the sap begins to run, or that a sudden change of temperature brings about this 
result ? I have known yuccas to fall in the same way when they reach a large 
size. R. “ altaclarense,” as it grows here, is of rapid growth and is certainly 
a splendid Rhododendron for grouping. It should be given plenty of room, for, 
when mature, it is a huge plant, almost a tree, and then when in flower nothing 
can exceed its beauty. 
The cold of the past winter had no ill effect on my young Indian or Chinese 
Rhododendrons ; its continuance into the spring made the flowering period later 
than usual; however, the buds opened to perfection, and the flowers appeared to 
be more intense in colour than usual. 
Among those of special note R. Augustinii held its own. I notice a great 
variation in this species, “Wilson Seed,” those of a pure bright lilac, without 
any hint of pink, are the best ; some flowers have no spots, others are dotted with 
green or brown inside ; one plant produced flowers of a dark lavender, and the 
foliage of this one is also dark. The flowers were produced in quantity on all 
these plants. 
R. Hookerii opened its fine blood-red flowers, but has not set seed. R. 
Edgeworthii and R. “ fragrantissimum ” also flowered well. 
January, 1918. KENNETH McDOUALL. 
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