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RHODODENDRONS AT MONREITH. 
Contributed by The Rt. Hon. Sir Herbert JVIaxwell, Bart. 
The spring of 1917 was unusually favourable for Rhododendrons, owing 
to the total absence of late frost. It is true that the weather continued very 
severe from Christmas until 12th April, except a mild speU for a fortnight at the 
end of February and beginning of March, and that the bloom of R. barbatum, 
PARViFOLiUM, “ PR^cox ” and “ Nobleanum,” brought fonvard thereby, was 
destroyed ; but the severity prevented the others starting in growth till they 
were safe. R. arboreum, for instance, which usually begins to flower early in 
March, and often suffers disfigurement thereafter, delayed opening its first truss 
till 21st April, and R. intricatum, which began in 1916 on 28th February, 
opened its first bloom on 24th April. 
The minimum temperature registered during the winter was 15° ; but the 
mercury fell to that point several times and the mean temperature of the first 
three months and a half was far below normal in this district. No damage was 
done, except to three plants of R. grande, eleven and nine years planted, of 
which the growth buds were nearly aU killed. None of Wilson’s or Forrest’s 
Rhododendrons were injured, some of the smaller plants receiving protection 
from fir branches stuck round them. The following species flowered here for the 
first time, R. ambiguum, neriiflorum (flowered again in autumn), aureum 
(Forrest 6767, a poor yellow), and also one of which I have lost the munber. It 
has pink flowers and leaves resembling R. decorum, but much smaller. There 
is a fine promise of blossom for next spring. 
HERBERT MAXWELL. 
October, 1917. 
170 
