148 THE FLORIST. 



varieties of Alta-Clerense, before mentioned, followed by Russellia- 

 nura and Invictum, both beautifully marked on all the petals in the 

 throat of the flower. In the present month (June) come several fine 

 varieties raised by Mr. H. Waterer from Catawbiense, of which Pur- 

 pureum grandiflorum and Evarestianum are remarkable for producing 

 many trusses of flowers in close aggregation ; so that when expanded 

 they form vast masses of bloom quite surprising to persons accus- 

 tomed to see only the old Pontic sorts, and measuring several feet 

 round. My trees are bent down on all sides by the weight of the 

 flowers. Roseum ccelestmum, and others of the same Catawbiense 

 habit, are also very beautiful ; indeed, the varieties that have been 

 added every year of late are so numerous and so fine, that descrip- 

 tion and preference become equally difficult ; and where the soil is 

 favourable, a large tract planted with the new varieties, judiciously 

 mixed, would in the season afford one of the most enchanting ex- 

 hibitions that nature affords. From their easy propagation they will 

 soon become abundant and moderate in price ; and those who are 

 now entering on life may see, in the evergreen woods and groves 

 surrounding the rural residences of England, a variety and beauty 

 which uncultivated nature never yields, except in climates unfavour- 

 able to human health, and which can only be found where peace and 

 security enable men to anticipate the future, and to hope that the 

 tree which they are planting, too late in life for them to hope to see 

 its maturity, may overshadow succeeding generations of their decen- 

 dants, when it rivals its congeners on the hills of Chili or California 

 But we have at present to do with shrubs of a humbler growth, 

 which any one who has sufficient vivacity left to take an interest in 

 may reasonably expect to see in flower, and which will assuredly enter 

 in no unimportant degree into the formation of the scenes we have 

 been anticipating. Of the Rhododendrons that I have bloomed, the 

 largest, both in flower and truss, are, 1. Tigrinum ; 2. Maculatum 

 grandiflorum ; 3. Broughtonianum ; 4. Metropolitanum. The two first 

 are very similar in leaf and habit, and differ only in colour, No. 2 

 being of a bluer and darker purple than the other. Both, as their 

 names import, are strongly and beautifully spotted. No. 3 is of a 

 fine rose colour, with very large and thick leaves. No. 4 is the 

 nearest approach to a true scarlet I have yet seen in this family. 

 Nos. 3 and 4 are probably more tender than the other two. The 

 flowers of all the four measure 4 inches across when fully expanded, 

 and form immense and noble trusses. Two varieties, very distinct 

 in colour from the generality of the newly raised sorts, are, Victoria, 

 with flowers of a deep rich imperial purple ; and Hendersoni, of a 

 rich shaded claret; to which may be added Fastuosum, of a clear blue 

 lilac, generally coming double. These three will always form a 

 most agreeable variation from the usual run of crimsons and rose- 

 colours. There are some fine striped varieties, as Striatum and 

 Woolleri; the last streaked with crimson on the outside of the flower. 

 But the best that I have seen is Bicolor of Mr. Baker's catalogue, 

 perfectly hardy, pure white petals, thick as leather, with a broad 

 bright pink edging, changing as the flower fades to a violet colour. 



