Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1893-12-21

really better known in England than
here aud there it forms one of the
main features Of the underground of
lawns and pleasure grounds. The
rhododendron is not perfectly hardy
in the ATTITUDES Of New York and Bos-
ton, and requires some protection dur
ing the winter. On this account, and
also because of its greater cost over
many hardy. deciduous shrubs and
everUreens, it has not been planted ex-
tensively except by people Of wealth
who wish TO keep up fine grounds ard
who have n gardener to care for them.
Because of the evergreen leaves of
a glaueous hue, If for nothing
more, the rhododendron should find
place on every lawn for the sake of
variety. Add 10 this its low growth
and beautiful flowers, and we have a
plant with few rivals. Still, amateurs
with but limited purse cannot afford
many plants, especially of the named
and grated sorts, but nurserymen are
offering unnamed seedlings at moder-
ate price, and they are sure to give
satisfaction when planted singly or in
groups. Upon the avn rhododend-
rons should have d situation protected
from the cold sweeping winds of
winter. They like a light loan,
manfred annually with peat and leaf
mold. The subsoil should be retentive,
for they do not thrive well if kept dry9
For greenhouse culture they must be
kept in as small pots as possible and
the root space restricted Give a good,
rich soil and good drainage They are
strictly d cool house plant. and viii
not do well in a warm atmosphere. y
house rs near forty degrees as possible
suits them best, although they viii
withstand sixty degrees in the day
time if the temperature does not fall
too low at night. They should be left
indoors the first two years. and may
then be put outside during the sum
mer after that. The growing season
is from April to June, when they
should have plenty Of water. The
plants should be removed To cool pit
or house on the approach Of cold
weather, which should be kept just
above the freezing point For early
Towering, the plants should be
brought into moderate heat from De-
cember onward, but must not be kept
too warm.
Rhododendrons are propagated in
various ways. As mentioned, many
are raised from seed The seed pods
should be allowed 70 mature, but must
be picked before bursting and placed
in a warm place in the house. As soon
as the pods burst the seeds must be
rathered and sowu thinlv, Mix with
twenty ports OF fine sand and sow in
pans filled with equal parts Of finely
sifted loan and decaYcd peat. Cover
very thinly with sitting Of this ana
a little sand and water with fine
hose TIE seedlings should Ice
pricllca out into small pots when
three OF four leaves have formed, kept
i'm the greenhouse few weeks and
then moved out into pits. The seeds
will keep coming up for several
months. Cuttings OF side shoots are
often taken, and marching and taper
ing are sometimes practiced. Stocks
for grating are raised from seed or
cuttings and grated in the spring
when one year old The saddle graft
is commonly employed, although the
side graft and bud give good results
The cuttings should be Of half-ripe
wood and should be stuck into COM
post in close frame with moderate
bottom heat. But little pruning is re-
qrIired, and when it is necessary it
should be done at time when the
part removed can he used for cuttings