"Greenhorn" writes: " I have a bed of six or seven Rhododendrons planted in a space of about 3 feet by 8 feet. They came from a nursery, in March of 1882. They bloomed magnificently last May and early June, as they all had buds on when received. The requisite conditions of soil and the preparation were properly attended to previously, the bed being trenched out to depth of over two feet, the old earth removed, and filled with alternate layers of brush and top garden-soil until even with ground, when bed was finished off with fine soil 6 to 8 inches higher. This spring nothing but leaf buds pushed, there being only one solitary flower truss in the whole lot, while one of the plants did not even make new growth. Is this condition of things the natural reaction in first year after transplanting and only what I have a right to expect, looking for better results next spring? Or is there some fault of my own probable? Should there be anything done in the way of protection during winter? The plants were hardy rhododendrons."

[Our correspondent's Rhododendrons have not bloomed this year because, no doubt, every branch bore flowers last season. When this is the case, they bloom but sparingly the following year. The branches which push from below the corymbs of flowers do not, as a rule, bloom the next year, and this gives a biennial character to the plant, in this respect. If he finds later on, as he probably will, that every branch is capped with a flower bud, and will remove a few of them, the disappointment experienced now will probably not be felt again. Rhododendrons, although hardy, are the better for a slight covering of leaves or brush in winter. They have a better appearance in spring. - Ed. G. M.]