3El6obobent)ron ^ocietp ^otesi 
THE CULTIVATION OF RHODODENDRONS AT LEONARDSLEE. 
Our Honorary Secretary has asked me to write a few notes on the cultivation 
of Rhododendrons, I will begin by saying that as all gardens differ as to soil 
and climate, what I say refers entirely to my own garden, and my methods 
may not be successful in other places. 
This garden, near Horsham, in Sussex, is situated about 275 feet above the 
sea level. The portion where the Rhododendrons are chiefly planted is a valley 
about half a mile in width in the widest part, measuring from the top of the 
ridge to the top of the ridge on the opposite side, and sloping downwards to the 
South-East. Speaking generally, it is planted with trees of a density which 
can best be described as " open woodland ” ; the high ground at the sides 
being thickly covered for the purpose of shelter. The natural growth is 
heather, bracken, and birch trees. The average rainfall from 1882 to 1912, 
was 29'65 inches. Of frost 28 degrees were registered by the exposed ther¬ 
mometer on the 5th of January, 1894, and again on February 7th, 1895, and 
on February 3rd, 1912, 21 degrees. 
On the top of the hill near the house, where I like to keep the choicer species, 
the soil is stiff and heavy. 
Before planting a Rhododendron it is advisable to dig out a hole in the 
trenched ground much larger than would at first sight appear necessary. The 
soil is thrown out to the back of the border and the hole filled with a compost of 
peat, turfy loam and coarse sand. A fork is used to stir it up and to incorporate 
the mixture thoroughly with the natural soil at the bottom and sides of the hole. 
The Rhododendron is then planted and made firm. A thick mulching of dead 
leaves is certainly beneficial as it keeps off the burning sun and parching winds 
from the roots, besides acting as a protection from frost. 
In most books on gardening leaf-mould is recommended ; this may be right 
in many gardens, but we do not succeed with it here. We find that it makes the 
soil sour and that the plants become sickly when planted in it. 
On the other side of the valley the soil is light and sandy, and in summer it 
becomes dust-dry so that the plants suffer ; even heavy and frequent watering 
seems to make little difference and consequently the Rhododendrons did not 
thrive. However, these plants are looking very well now ; they have been dug 
round and turfy loam placed next to the roots, and when a plant looked very 
yellow a light mulching of farm-yard manure has been given, usually with good 
effect. This shows how gardens differ, for I believe that in Cornwall most 
growers consider that farm-yard manure is not at all suitable for Rhododendrons. 
The larger-leaved kinds such as R. Fortunei and R. Aucklandii hybrids 
seem always to be benefited by a mulching of manure, but much more care must 
195 
