193 



RHODODENDRON HOOKERL 



(Plate 115.) 



TniS fine Rhododendron is one of a number of remarkable species 

 discovered in Assam and Bhotan by Thos. J, Booth, iisq., and 

 introduced by him to English gardens. The one we now figure 

 has bloomed this present spring with Mr. Fairie, of Liverpool. 

 Messrs. E. G. Henderson, of Wellington Road — an enterprising 

 firm — have purchased the entire stock of these Rhododendrons 

 from Mr. Booth, which includes twelve species, and which will, we 

 doubt not, prove equal, if they do not surpass, the splendid species 

 of the same tribe, introduced from Sikkim by Dr. Hooker, some 

 of which, including R. Edgworthi and Dalhousise, have already 

 flowered in this country. We are told respecting the present 

 group, that amongst these brilliant discoveries from the Bhotan 

 Alps are the most wonderful sized flowers, delicious fragrance, 

 and distinct colours of any that are known to exist in this gorgeous 

 tribe of plants. We are therefore the no less indebted to Mr. 

 Booth than to Dr. Joseph Hooker, for having enriched our 

 gardens with these magnificent natives of the Indian Alps. 



Considering the many grand plants which yet remain in Bhotan, 

 Nepal, Cashmere, and adjoining districts, we are surprised that 

 none of our enterprising nurserymen have thought it worth their 

 while to send a collector for the purpose of procuring the many 

 treasures yet unknown beyond their native haunts. Those of our 

 readers who have been fortunate enough to have seen the splendid 

 work on the plants of Nepal and Cashmere, edited by Dr. Hooker, 

 from drawings made on the spot by Lieut. Cathcart, will be able 

 to form some idea of the magnificent plants yet to be introduced, 

 and whose value will be additionally enhanced by the fact that 

 they may be expected to prove hardy. It is not more than 20 

 years ago when nothing but K.ponticum,catawbiense,and maximum 

 worth naming, were cultivated in this country ; and these, though 

 very valuable introductions at the time (and useful plants still), 

 possessed but a poor variety of colour, the prevailing tints being 

 a dull or rosy purple. By crossing these with the scarlet-flowered 

 arboreum from Nepal a strain was obtained having scarlet flowers 

 but retaining the tender habit of their Indian parent. This pro- 

 geny was again crossed with hardy kinds, and so up to the present 

 dav, when our collections (as may be now witnessed, and to 

 which our pages this month amply refer), present us with every 

 intermediate shade of colour between intense scarlet, rich purple, 

 and down to a pure white, produced on plants in every respect 

 hardy. This great triumph of the hybridiser's art has already 

 produced a great improvement in our gardens; and from the 

 quantities which are annually raised by the great growers of 



NEW SERIES, VOL. VI., NO. LXVII. 



