THE great laurel, Rhododendron maximum, which occurs in great abundance in the Alleghany mountains from New York to Georgia, is a rare plant in the New England states. The stations where it is found are few in number, though in some the growth is very profuse. Much as I have botanized in New England, Ihad never seen the plant till, on July 29, 1890, in company with a merry party from Jaffrey, N. H., I visited the famous forest of this most exquisite shrub, on the farm of S. M. Follansbee, in the town of Fitzwil-liam, N. H. We started on a bright afternoon and drove through a most picturesque country, with the grand peak of Mt. Monadnock towering above us. Fitzwilliam lies in the south-western part of New Hampshire, in Cheshire county, 77 miles from Boston, Mass., on the line of the Fitch burg and Cheshire railroad. The country round about is very rolling and hilly, and this affords most beautiful scenery. Two miles beyond the town, we drew up at Mr. Follansbee's farm and were conducted by the owner through a rocky pasture to a pretty grove of spruces and pines near by.

I never had heard any account of these rhododendrons, and I expected to see but a few plants scattered here and there, and so I was in nowise prepared for the glorious spectacle that burst upon me as I passed through the trees that shut the view from my sight. I suddenly saw before me a literal forest of rhododendrons. To me, a beholder for the first time, it was a never-to-be-forgotten sight. I was confronted by a dense mass of evergreen foliage, rising to the height of from 10 to 15 feet, and covering the ground all about us. We entered a pathway cut through this forest and were lost amid the luxuriant growth. Large clusters of rose-colored and white flowers brightened up the dark hue of the leaves, like brilliant gems in a dark setting, We visited but a small part of the ground covered by these plants. They extend over from 12 to 13 acres, not forming one continual growth, but occurring in greater or less density. Those which I visited were growing in a rich, black, peaty loam, over which one could easily walk. Others grow in more swampy ground, while some flourish even on comparatively dry slopes.

We were allowed to pick the flowers freely, and we took home with us large bunches.

Can it be that the rhododendron once grew in intermediate stations, connecting this station with its southern habitat ? We have similar cases in New England of isolated species persisting far away from their southern or western homes ; for example, the Magnolia glauco in Magnolia, Mass. The Rhododendron maximum, which is closely allied to the mountain laurel, Kalmia latifolia, so abundant in eastern North America, is certainly a queen among its relatives of the heath family in the United States. The large, glossy dark green persistent leaves are generally 6 to 8 inches in length, lance-oblong in shape, acute at the end and narrowed at the base. It has a somewhat bell-shaped corolla, very rosy in bud. but whiter when in flower. The stamens, commonly ten in number, and the style are rarely exserted, a character which distinguishes it from the azalea section of the genus rhododendron. The flower clusters are in sessile umbels, the viscid pedicels being little more than an inch in length.

I cull the following from information furnished me by Mr. Follansbee, who sells young plants of this shrub to fanciers. The rhododendron thrives best in masses, rather than in single specimens, and prefers a sandy, peaty soil, though any good, light, sandy loam answers very well. A clayey loam or limestone soil should be carefully avoided. The plants are easy to transplant, the best times being from April to June and from August to December. A cool and moist locality, with deep soil, is preferable, and the plant should not be exposed to the severe winter winds, which shake the foliage about, covered with ice and snow, often stripping off the leaves, so essential in their perfection to the beauty of the plant: hence, as mentioned above, it flourishes much better when growing in masses, and makes a brilliant show when so grouped.

A Cluster of Rhododendron Maximum.

Careful pruning prevents the plants from becoming long and straggling, August being the best time. When the plants are out of flower, propagating may be effected by grafting and by layers. By the latter method a few of the lower branches are pegged down to the soil, and they may be removed and transplanted the second year. One plant was introduced years ago into Great Britain, where it flourished in great luxuriance. By hybridizing it with an Asiatic species, which has far more brilliancy of color than our own, but is not hardy, a variety has been obtained combining the two very important characteristics of hardiness and gorgeous display of flowers, thus making the rhododendron a most valuable acquisition to our garden shrubs, and justifying the great attention given it in Europe.

Walter Deane.