; S90 MAJOR MADDKN's RHODODENDRON. 



I 



tliis is not done here to any extent, because of the trouble of seeking a market, 

 whereas tlie market should seek them. Intellij^ent men and women may liiid proiit- 

 able employment in this business around every principal city and village; they will 

 have to do so, not only for purposes of their own but to be useful ; the bee visits 

 every flower, picking up a little here and a little there to add to his store; let human 

 industry imitate the bee, and carry its collected store where it will be appreciated. 

 Our word for it, there is much to be had in this way, and there is a sure and profit- 

 able market somewhere for it all. 



MAJOR MADDEN'S RHODODENDRON. 



Every one has either heard or read of Dr. Hooker's discoveries of Rhododen- 

 drons, in the Himalayas. So very beautiful are they, that the Doctor's journey 

 would have been amply repaid had he found no other novelties. The desire to 

 own these amongst our enthusiastic amateurs is so strotjg, that in many cases no 

 sum would be considered too great for the favor of being allowed to possess the 

 coveted treasure. Many of the species alreadv exist in our collections, and we 

 have no doubt from their rare beauty, they will in a few years be as common as the 

 7i'. Arhoreum. The greatest misfortune is, that they will probably not prove hardy 

 with us; though it seems rather playful in the country which has already given 

 us a hardy Deodar, Morinda, and others, to keep back from us one hardy 

 Rhododendron. As soon as they become common enough to risk, we trust some 

 of our cultivators will see to this matter. In the meantime, we are sure our 

 readers will thank us for placing before them an opportunity to judge for them- 

 selves, of the value of these plants. We may, however, remark that the illustration 

 given, will go very little towards giving an idea of the other kinds; as they are 

 unusually varied in the form and color of their flowers, as well as in their foliage, 

 and general appearance. We append Sir W. Hooker's remarks on the present 

 subject: — 



''Next to R. Dalhousice, this is perhaps the noblest of the Sikkim Rhododen- 

 drons which rewarded Dr. Hooker's researches in Northern India. Its flowers are 

 nearly as large as in that species; fragrant, very much in general form and size 

 resembling the white Day Lily (Lilium Candidum), but the Corolla is delicately 

 tinged with rose. Fine as is the original figure of the author above quoted, it is 

 quite equalled by our flowering specimens at Kew, which were in perfection in May 

 and June of 1854, in a cool and shaded greenhouse. The large delicate flowers 

 contrast well with the ample dark-green foliage, which is rusty beneath, and has 

 deep red petioles. It is a rare species in its native mountains, only found in the 

 inner ranges of Sikkim Himalaya, in thickets by the Lachen and Lachoong rivers, 

 at Choongtam, at an elevation of six thousand feet above the level of the sea. We 

 cannot venture to consider it a hardy plant. The species, Dr. Hooker says, is 

 named in compliment to Major Madden, of the Bengal Civil Service, — a good 

 accomplished botanist, to who.se learned memoirs on the plants of the tempe 



