MAY. 129 



RHODODENDRON RETUSUM. 



(Plate 100.) 



This pretty species of Rhododendron has l)een figured from the 

 nursery of Messrs. Rollisson, of Tooting, where plants of it have 

 flowered for tlie first time, we believe, in Europe, this present 

 spring. 



The Messrs. Rollisson inform us that plants of it were received 

 from Mr. John Henshall, their collector in Java, about four years 

 ago, who found it growing on the lofty volcanic mountains in the 

 western parts of Java, about 9000 feet above the level of the sea. 

 Mr. Henshall states also that it grows much higher up the 

 mountains than Rhododendron javanicum, and consequently may 

 be expected to turn out a much hardier kind. Hitherto in the 

 Tooting nursery it has been grown in a greenhouse, where it 

 appears to thrive very well. 



Although described many years ago both by Dr. Horsfield and 

 the eminent Dutch botanist. Dr. Blume, Mr. Henshall (Messrs. 

 Rollissons' collector) was the first, we believe, to send plants that 

 survived the voyage to Europe. 



. The Messrs. Rollisson inform us that no difficulty is met with in 

 cultivating this species, if treated in the same manner as R. 

 javanicum is grown. To give it the necessary drainage, small 

 rubble stones are generally mixed with the peat and sand in 

 potting the plants. 



Messrs. Rollissons' variety of R. javanicum was likewise sent 

 them from Java through Mr. John Henshall, and is figured at 

 p. 65 of the Florist for 1852. 



Although all the Java Rhododendrons are extremely handsome in 

 themselves as greenhouse plants, and as such demand cultivation, 

 even where only limited collections are grown, yet their value to 

 English gardens will be enhanced when hybrids from them which 

 have been crossed with hardy varieties shall become common ; and 

 when the rich warm colour of these varieties is obtained on plants 

 hardy enough to withstand our winters, such will prove a decided 

 acquisition to this already beautiful tribe of plants, which can now 

 boast of nearly every colour but the one in question ; nor do we 

 yet despair of seeing the bright glossy foliage of javanicum and 

 retusum combined in varieties whose size of bloom may vie with 

 Dalhouseianum and some other Sikkim Rhododendrons; for, great 

 as has been the success attending the efforts of hybridising with 

 this family, much yet remains to be accomplished ; and viewed in 

 this light, the species now under review afford materials by which 

 plants with both new habits and colours may reasonably be 

 expected. 



We hope some one will give this species of Rhododendron 



NEW SERIES, VOL. V. NO. LIII. K 



