66 



THE FLORIST. 



8000 feet upon the volcanic range of mountains which extend 

 through Java. He mentions that it is in some instances epi- 

 phytal, but that it more frequently inhabits the sides of moun- 

 tains, where it forms a branching shrub from seven to ten 

 feet in height. 



It is but fair to add, before quitting this subject, that 

 Messrs. Veitch have also been successful in importing this 

 beautiful Rhododendron, through their collector, ]Mr. Lobb. 



As regards the Sikkim varieties of this showy genus, 

 about which such high expectations have been formed in 

 consequence of the magnificent drawings of them published 

 by Dr. Hooker in his Himalayan Rhododendra, we can only 

 say, that we trust the worst has blossomed first; for the R. 

 ciliatum she^vn at late meetings of the Horticultural Society 

 in Regent-street, (first) by Messrs. Standish and Noble of Bag- 

 shot, and (second) by Sir Joseph Paxton from Chatsworth, 

 proves to be almost as colourless as the white Indian Azalea. 

 Of the two, the one from Bagshot was the best \ but although 

 pretty enough, it had nothing in particular to recommend it, 

 except perhaps its dwarf habit, which by cross-breeding may 

 possibly be communicated to some of our larger - growing 

 kinds. It is, however, impossible to form any thing like an 

 accurate judgment of the merits of this species from the two 

 small plants of it exhibited ; for it is very likely they have 

 been forced into flower, and we all know that blossoms pro- 

 duced during the dull months of early spring are not, even 

 under the most favourable circumstances, particularly remark- 

 able for brilliancy of colour. Let us hope, therefore, that this 

 R. ciliatum may improve in this respect, although we much 

 fear it will never realise the beauty of Dr. Hooker's represen- 

 tation, which is reddish purple. It seems, as we have said, to 

 be a very dwarf-growing kind, with small pale-green hairy 

 leaves ; and if it should acquire colour, it will be very useful 

 for many purposes. Dr. Hooker states that in Sikkim it is a 

 small shrub growing in clumps, two feet high, generally in 

 moist rocky places, at 9000 to 10,000 feet elevation, in valleys 

 flanked by snowy mountains. It blossoms in May, each floret 

 being an inch and a half long, and nearly as much across at 

 the mouth. 



As the mean temperature of the year in the Sikkim por- 

 tion of the Himalaya, the native country of the Rhododen- 

 drons in question, is stated to be 55° Fahr., and as the winters 

 are said to be severe, with often heavy falls of snow, we may 

 entertain some hopes that all the fine Rhododendrons from that 

 quarter will be hardy in this country ; and if this should turn 

 put to be the case, and if they should ever be found to ap- 



