Etje i^ljotfobenbron ^ocietp iioteiJ, 
be taken in its use with such kinds as R. Thomsonii and R. campylocarpum, 
which seem more delicate. Rhododendrons are usually easj'’ to keep in health 
if looked after and disbudded when this is required. Some kinds, such as 
R. CAMPYLOCARPUM, may be killed by allowing them to flower year after year 
without taking off any of the buds ; and when once a Rhododendron gets into 
bad health it is often a difficult matter to coax it back again to a thriving state. 
Usually the best way is to cut it down and then transplant it to some other 
position and soil. It is wonderful how vigorously some plants will grow after 
having been treated in this way. It is to be noted, however, that after being 
cut down some species of Rhododendrons will not break again, or very 
weakly. I would not cut down R. Thomsonii, Aucklandii, Falconeri, 
EXIMIUM, or GRANDE. 
Most of my Rhododendrons are grown in the half-shade of trees, and seem 
to do well. 
Some of the smaller sorts—R. Falconeri, intricatum, racemosum, setosum, 
ELAEAGNOiDES, SALiGNUM, CHAMAECiSTUS, etc., are growing in my rock garden 
in fully exposed positions and are doing equally well. 
Large-leaved kinds require shelter from wind, otherwise in stormy weather 
the leaves are apt to get broken or torn off. 
Some Rhododendrons, such as auriculatum and eximium, are very late 
growers, and I try to plant them where they will be shaded from the hot sun, 
otherwise the tender shoots would very probably be scorched. 
The leaves of R. fulgens are often burnt if exposed to full sunshine, but the 
greater number of these plants will stand a full exposure if onty the roots are 
protected therefrom by mulching or otherwise. When the plants have become 
strong and bushy and the branches shade their own roots they will need no 
further care and the hottest sun will do no harm. 
R. kamtschaticum and R. chrysanthum are reported to be difficult 
subjects. The former grows and flowers well in the open rock-garden in peaty 
soil; but I have not 5 ^et been able to make a success of R. chrysanthum. I 
have some little hopes of these plants now that they have been planted in half¬ 
shade in a mixture of peat and sphagnum, with live sphagnum growing between 
the plants. The bed is below a tap so that at any time the bed can be properly 
irrigated. 
I may add to what I have said above that I do not think an}'’ harm can 
possibly be done by using leaves and leaf-mould for mulching. With regard to 
its use round the *roots, I know of one garden near by where the experience is 
the same as mine ; and I know of another garden not much further off where, 
on the contrary, leaf-mould has been used on a considerable scale and with, 
apparently, complete success. 
EDMUND GILES LODER. 
*It is much to be hoped that this question as to the value of leaf-mould may be the 
subject of experiments in the near future. C.C.E. 
196 
