September 16, 1905 



HORTICULTURE 



Greenhouse Rhododendrons 



These line winter-Huweriiii,' plants for some reason 

 have not yet come to their own, partially eclipsed, per- 

 haps, by the hardier varieties. Easy to grow as an 

 azalea tliey have not commanded the admiration given 

 to that general favorite; yet who tliat has seen them at 

 their best will question their claim to equal honors 

 either in usefulness or beauty, covering a wide range of 

 delicate and refined colors. They are invaluable as 

 choice cut flowers and especially suitable for bouquet 

 work. Specimen plants, well grown, are a delight to 

 the eye, but there is nothing more unsightly than leggy, 

 stunted or unshapely plants. 



Divided into two groups, namely, Javanese and 

 Himalayan, the former represented typically by javani- 

 cum and the latter by Countess of Haddington; to these 

 must be added the new doubles which are nearly all the 

 product of crossing these two sections. We are greatly 

 indebted to Messrs. Veitch of England for the raising of 

 many choice hybrids and especially for the doubles such 

 as "Cloth of Gold," etc. The great increase of varieties 

 of late years makes a selection desirable. The number 

 of fine tilings in the Javanese section quite put in the 

 shade the old Himalayan varieties; many of them, it is 

 true are pretty and fragrant, but with the exceptions of 

 Veitchianum and Lady Alice Fitzwilliam they have lit- 

 tle commercial value and are rapidly passing out of 

 date. 



Jasminiflora and Princess Alexandra still keep their 

 place as the best whites. The former with its delicate 

 and lengthy corollas, coupled with a sweet fragrance, is 

 just the thing for bridal bouquets. Javanicum. with its 

 immense bright orange trusses of bloom, is only seen 

 at its best as a specimen. Lord Wolseley is a hybrid 

 from javanicum and a more compact grower, flowers 

 very large of a bright-yellow color. President is derived 

 from Lord Wolseley and, is similar, being of a clear buff- 

 yellow tinted slightly with rose. 



La Favorite, a delicate satiny rose, is a distinct sort, 

 not unlike the old Taylorii. Duchess of Tech, Maiden's 

 Blush and Princess Frederica are closely allied in color, 

 being of a light buff-yellow. Duchess of Connaught, 

 thought rather a sticky grower, still remains the best 

 bright red. Duchess of Portland (new) is an acquisi- 

 tion, being a hybrid from jasminiflora and Princess 

 Eoyal. It is of a beautiful shade of soft pink with the 

 lengthy tube of jasminiflora, a most compact grower 

 and wonderfully free ; it is a gem and was selected as the 

 best out of scores of crosses. 



The double balsaminseflora album and aureum were 

 great novelties when introduced, but being of weakly 

 constitution are being rapidly superseded. Veitchianum 

 remains an ever-popular subject. A specimen with 

 masses of its white fragrant blossoms is an unforgetable 

 sight, but Lady Alice Fitzwilliam is perhaps the best 

 and most favored of all .greenhouse rhododendrons. 



As to propagation, the Javanese section should be 

 grafted, using nice, healthy straight plants of Princess 

 Eoyal as stock. The Veitchianum section root freely 

 from cuttings, finely sifted peat and equal proportion of 

 silver sand being used, in gentle bottom heat. The first 

 stage growth should be nipped out if short, shapely 

 plants are desired. Ehododendrons delight in a cool, 

 moist temperature during growth and watering freely, 

 but as the flower buds are setting it .should be applied 

 more sparingly. After flowering a decided rest must 

 be given in cool drv quarters. Thrips are their worst 

 enemies and should be sedulously sought and prompt 

 remedies applied, using Gishurst Compound. .\s root- 



iiia- )iuitei-ial use rough peat and sand with one-third 

 wi'll-dir.inipused leaf mould, mixing a few days before 

 UH'. uaii'iiui: this well if dry. Hard potting should be 

 the rule, with good drainage. The cultivator who takes 

 these suhjects in hand with patience and attention to 

 their simple requirements will meet with a rich reward 

 at a season when variety inside is doubly welcome. 



g 



OjO^cJC 



g^^ 



'1>VJUL« 



More About True Beauty 



George Moore in his dissertation on True Beauties and 

 Coupe de Hebe in Horticulture recently struck a 

 note that is all too rare in these matter-of-fact days. 

 When we compare our literature with that of olden 

 days there is a distinct falling off in that richness and 

 delicacy of feeling which seemed to prevail among the 

 lovers of nature 500 years ago. I was reading a 

 passage the other day in Gawain Douglas (Bishop of 

 Dunkeld in 1470) which I think bears out the point 

 and is worth repeating for its effulgent appreciation of 

 the world about us, and not only that, but makes clear 

 that the natural paradise is largely in the seeing eye — 

 ancient or modern. 



" The blossoms in tlie blowing garden trusted their 

 heads to the protection of the young sun. Rank ivy leaves 

 overspread the walls of the rampart. The blooming haw- 

 thorn clothed all the thorns in flowers. The budding clus- 

 ters of the tender grapes hung endlong by their tendrils 

 from the trellises. The germs of the trees unlocking, ex- 

 panded themselves into the foliage of nature's tapestry. 

 There was a soft verdure after balmy showers. The 

 flowers smiled in various colours on the bending stalks; 

 some red, others wachet like the blue and wavy sea, 

 speckled with red and white, or bright as gold. The daisy 

 embraided her little coronet. The grass stood embattled 

 with banewort; the seeded down flew from the dandelion. 

 Young weeds appeared among the leaves of the strawber- 

 ries and gay gilliflowers. The rose buds, putting forth, 

 opened their red vernal lips to be kissed, and diffused 

 fragrance from the crisp scarlet that surrounds their 

 golden seeds. Lilies, with white curling tops showed 

 their crests open. The odorous vapour moistened the sil- 

 ver webs that hung from the leaves. The plain was 

 powdered with round dewy pearls. From every bud. 

 scion, herb and flower bathed in liquid fragrance, the bee 

 sucked sweet honey. * * * The painted peacock, with 

 gaudy plumes, unfolded his tail like a bright wheel, en- 

 shrouded in his silver feathers resembling the marks of 

 the hundred eyes of Argus. Among the boughs of the 

 twisted tree the small birds framed the artful nest or 

 along the thick hedges or rejoiced with their merry mates 

 in the tall oaks. * * * The ring dove coos in the tall 

 copse; the starling whistles her varied descant; the spar- 

 row chirps in the clefted wall; the goldfinch and linnet fill 

 the skies; the cuckoo cries, the quail twitters; while 

 rivers, shaws, and every dale resound; and the tender 

 branches tremble on the trees at the song of the birds and 

 the buzzing of the bees." 



Can John Trotwood Moore or Thoreau or any of the 

 rest of our moderns beat that pen picture? And 

 remember that was in Scotland in the year 1470 about 

 the time Christopher was bracing Ferdinand and 

 Isabella for the loan of a boat to discover America, and 

 long before that great educator, the Society of American 

 Flori.-ts. had l)een thought of. 



