May 10, 1S77. ] 



JOURNAL OF HOaTICULTURE AND OOXTAQE GARDENER. 



349 



beantif q1 pink variety Princesa Eoyal would issue from such 

 a cross ; but when such was the case he was quick to perceive 

 that a wide and important field was open for further experi- 

 ment. Some years of waiting have brought a reward to the 

 great Chelsea firm, and through them to the horticultural 

 world, for since the value of this fine type of Rhododendrons 

 has become admitted they will speedily find their way into all 

 the important gardens of the country. The newer varieties, 

 which have been lately exhibited and certificated, Messrs. 

 Veitch state, have betn obtained by the intercrossing of 

 B. javnnioum, E. Lobbi, II. Brookei, and K. Princess Koyal, 

 and in which the gorgeous and pleasing colours of these kinds 



are blended into a great variety of brilliant and distinct tints. 

 These hybrids are of far better habit than the parents, and 

 far more floriferous ; they produce their magnificent trusses 

 of bloom while the plant is still young, and as they increase 

 in age and strength yield splendid masses of colour ; there is 

 scarcely any season of the year in which there is not more or 

 less bloom. They require the same temperature as E. Princess 

 Eoyal, and are very suitable for a warm conservatory or green- 

 house, where their brilliant flowers will be found an invaluable 

 addition to the decorative resources. 



Wo have had evidence that that description is fally justifi- 

 able, for the varieties we have noticed combine many excellent 



Fig, '15.— KiiODLiDENDRON TAVLORI. 



qualities. Their colours are distinct and pleasing, the foliage 

 is handsome, the habit of the plants is good, and they are oon- 

 tinuona bloomers. They grow and flower with great freedom 

 in an intermediate house, and the trusses continue a long 

 time in beauty. The plants appear to require no particular 

 season of rest, but go on growing, setting their buds, and 

 flowering continually. A few which we have seen and which 

 are highly recommendable are 



Princess Royal, pink ; E. jaYanicnm x E, jasminiflorum. 

 Very distinct and pleasing. 



Prince Leopold, rosy salmon ; E. Brookei ;■; E. Princess 

 Boyal. Novel in colour and attractive. 



Maidfn's lilnsh, creamy white faintly suffused with pink; 

 H. jasminiflorum x E. Princess Eoyal. A charming variety 

 of nndonbted merit. 



Duchi'is (if Kdinhurtjh, orange scarlet shaded with crimson ; 

 R. Lobbi :■; E. Princess Eoyal. A rich and splendid variety. 

 And 



R. Taylori, warm pink with white tube. We did not obtain 

 the parentage of this charming variety. It is one of "the 



best of the batch," perhaps in habit and foliage the " best of 

 all." An illustration showing the natural size of the truss 

 and flower is here given, and which alTords a sufficient idea of 

 the character of this valuabie race of Ehododondrona. 



BIRDS AND SQUIRRELS. 



As many of your correspondents seem much troubled with 

 birds and squirrels, I should advise them to keep a dog or a cat 

 in their gardens. I have two cats, which live almost entirely 

 in the garden and clear it of mice, and also a colley dog, which 

 makes it the business of his life to drive away every bird he 

 sees. The moment a bird settles on a tree or a bush the dog 

 ia after it, and barka round the tree till the birds rise, when 

 he hunts them fairly out of the place. Ho has even fiUed-up 

 his spare time by " bird-keeping " in a field of Wheat, wliich ia 

 divided from my grounds by a low hedge, and mv neighbour 

 the farmer declares the dog has saved him tl-ti expense of 

 keeping a boy to scare birds this winter, wlv'e he haa done 

 no harm to his crops. At the same time '^^ dog is on ex- 



