AprU 13, 1876. ) 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTUEB AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



291 



ing branches of this variety as the true Red Dutoh Currant as 

 grown in Holland. 



3. Old Red [«'/«., Rouge Commun] .—This greatly resembles 

 the preceding. The plant is of most robust growth, but a 

 poor cropper and with small berries. It is most probably the 

 original stock from which Knight's Large Red, the present 

 common variety, has been selected. 



4. Red Cheery [si/n., La Versaillaiae J .—The berries of this 

 variety are very large and handsome, almost like small Cherries ; 

 but they are produced very sparingly, the bunches frequently 

 consisting of only one berry, and from twenty to thirty berries 

 on a plant. The plant is of a gross spreading habit of growth. 

 The shoots pale, very gross. Leaves very large, broad, deep 

 green. It is unsuited for cultivation in the open ground, as 

 the shoots from their gross nature break ofi so easily, and so no 

 plant is formed. The buds do not break freely after pruning. 

 Grown against a wall it is more satisfactory. 



5. HonoaTON Seedling [syns., Houghton Castle, Orange- 

 field] . — This is a late variety. The berries of medium size, deep 

 red, and rather acid. Bunches long, produced in very thick 

 clusters. A most abundant cropper. The plant is of a very 

 robust, close-growing, sturdy, stubby habit, very rarely pro- 

 ducing long shoots. The leaves are small, deep dark green, 

 somewhat deeply cut and crumpled in appearance. Very dis- 

 tinct. This variety from its close compact habit of growth 

 and sturdy constitution is very suitable for growing in exposed 

 situations and for training as an espalier or pyramid. 



C. GoNDOOiN [syns., Raby Castle, May's Victoria, Imperials 

 Rouge, HoUande ix grappes longues] . — This is a remarkably 

 strong-growing late variety. The bunches are very long. 

 Berries large or above medium, of a bright red colour with a 

 sharp acidity. As a bearer it is only medium. The plant is 

 of a most robust growth, soon forming large bushes. Shoots 

 strong, reddish. Leaves large, dark green, with reddish vein- 

 ings, Mat, deeply cut, very showy, and very distinct. The 

 flowers have also a reddish tinge. This is one of the latest 

 Currants to ripen and hang well on the plants afterwards. 

 The plant from its strong vigorous growth is very suitable for 

 growing as standards or large bushes. 



7. Vehbiers Eodge. — This appears to be a compact dwarf- 

 growing form of the Gondouin. 



8. Mallow-leaved [syn., New Sweet Red]. — This is a 

 strong-growing late variety. Bunches long. Berries small, of 

 a pale red colour. Late in ripening and a somewhat poor 

 cropper. The plant is of very distinct appearance, strong, 

 tall-growing, with pale shoots. Leaves large, flat, soft, downy 

 like a Mallow, of a pale green colour, sometimes like the Black 

 Currant. 



9. Laced-leaved [syns., Large Sweet Red, Large Red, 

 d'HoUande a feuille bordee]. — A fine, compact-growing, bushy 

 variety. Bunches of a medium size. Berries medium, of a 

 pale red colour. A most abundant bearer. Shoots dark, 

 spreading. Leaves dark green with a glaucous hue, and the 

 greater portion, more especially those in the shade, having a 

 narrow silver lacing or border, giving the plants a slight 

 variegatad appearance. A very excellent good-habited variety. 



10. Cut-leaved isy7is., Feuille laciniee, Eyatt Nova]. — 

 Plant of somewhat slender spreading growth. Bunches of 

 medium size. Berries small, of a pale red. A very poor 

 oropper. Leaves small, deeply cut, or laciniated and pointed, 

 rendering it very distinct in appearance. 



11. Variegated [syn., Feuille panachije]. — This is a varie- 

 gated-leaved form of the common Red. A poor cropper. The 

 leaves are prettily variegated on their appearance in spring, 

 but soon become dull and dingy. 



12. STKiPED-FKniTED. — This in appearance resembles the 

 common Red. Berries smaU, pale in colour, with one or two 

 darker stripes, rather pretty. A very poor cropper. The 

 Gloire des Sablons is stated to be a White variety, prettily 

 striped with red. At Chiswick it proved the same as Gon- 

 douin. 



13. Champagne [syn., Conleur de Chair]. — This is remark- 

 able on account of the colour of the berries, which are pale 

 flesh, and their sweet flavour being exactly similar to the 

 White varieties. Bunches short. Berries small. The plant 

 is of dwarf bushy habit and robust. Leaves broad, flat, having 

 the appearance of the Red Dutch. It is an abundant bearer. 

 A desirable variety. 



WHITES. 



14. Coasiox White [syn., Blanche Commun]. — Plant of 

 dwarf bushy habit. Leaves small, deeply cut and crumpled in 

 their appearance. Bunches small ; berries small. 



15. WiLMOT'a Large White [s?/n., Blanche d'Angleterre] . — 

 Plant of free somewhat erect growth. Leaves large, flat. Bunch 

 of medium size. Berries large, white. A good cropper. 



16. White Dctcii [syn., IJlanche d'HoUande]. — Plant, 

 leaves, &c., of exactly the same appearance as the Red Dutch 

 —dwarf, compact, bushy. Bunches large ; berries large or 

 very large, of a yellowish-white colour, very fine, juicy, and 

 sweet. A great cropper. — A. F. Babbon. 



DO RABBITS EAT LILIUMS ? 

 My experience U that rabbits do eat Liliums. Here they 

 most assuredly did, but had not long the chance, as we put a 

 rabbit wire across the part of the garden where the Lily beds 

 were. My man says thoy principally fancied L. auratum. My 

 recollection is that L. longiflorum, as being the earliest Lily, 

 was their favourite. — George F. Wilson. 



Rabbits are curious animals and hard to understand. In 

 one place they will eat of vegetation that in other places is 

 left untouched. I have never known them eat Rhododendrons, 

 but Mr. Robson has stated that he has known these shrubs to 

 be destroyed by rabbits. I know of a large collection of 

 white Lilies, L. candidum, where rabbits abound, but the 

 Lilies are never touched. I obtained some of these Lilies and 

 planted them, and these the rabbits almost destroyed. It was, 

 perhaps, to gratify their curiosity rather than their taste, for 

 in after years they left the Lilies uniDJured. I know a shrub- 

 bery which is infested with rabbits, and in that shrubbery are 

 large clumps of the old kinds of Lilies— bulbiferum and chalce- 

 donicum— which are never injured ; but probably if these were 

 removed and replanted they would be nibbled by the rabbits. 

 Where rabbits are numerous and Lilies are desired it will be 

 safe to protect the plants for at least a year, and after that I 

 think there would not be much danger of their being eaten by 

 rabbits. I have had no experience with L. auratum in a rabbit- 

 infested district. — A Forester. 



RHODODENDRON?. 



I have been much interested in the articles and letters on 

 these charming shrubs which have appeared in our Journal, 

 and I write to ask if Mr. Luckhurst and any of your readers 

 will make a selection of the varieties which they think the 

 best. There are such an enormous number of varieties in culti- 

 vation that it is a difficult matter to select the best. I have a 

 fair collection, but should like to add to it. 



I have found Mr. Robson's guide as to the soil wherever the 

 Foxglove abounds being suitable for the Rhododendrons, per- 

 fectly safe to follow. I quite agree with him also that composts 

 as a rule are a mistake. I tried the very pond mud he men- 

 tions, and my plants refused to thrive in it ; but when they 

 were planted between the standard Roses they did splendidly. 

 I have found also a north border suit them very well. 



These shrubs are becoming, and deservedly so, most popular. 

 With me Azaleas and even Camellias do out of doors, but the 

 flowers of the former are small, and not to be compared to the 

 best varieties of Rhododendrons. — John B. M. Camm. 



[A dozen early kinds affording a succession of flowers from 

 January to May m favourable seasons are Dauricum, pale 

 purple; Dauricum atrovirens, purple; Prasoox superbum, a 

 hybrid flowering in February and March. It has been very 

 fine this season in the nursery of Messrs. Casson out on Thorn 

 Moor, near Doncaster— a sufficient severe test of its hardiness. 

 Mnemosyne Caucasicum grandiflorum, March and April; 

 Varium, deep pink ; Altaclarense, scarlet ; Soliel d'Austerlitz, 

 bright scarlet; Blanc Superb, white; Empress Eugenie, white; 

 Limbatum, delicate rose margined with carmine; Broughtoni, 

 rosy crimson; Pictum, blush white-spotted. 



Two dozen mid-season and late kinds are Alarm, white with 

 a margin of bright scarlet, very long foUage— a brilliant and 

 striking variety ; Purity, a fine kind with delicate white flowers ; 

 Due de Brabant, yellowish white, red spots, fine trusses ; Nero, 

 dark purple-spotted, compact growth— a very free-flowering 

 kind ; Titian, rosy scarlet ; Mrs. John Clutton, very fine white ; 

 Mrs. G. H. W. Heneage, bright purple with white centre; 

 Atrosanguineum, deep red, very free-flowering; Lady Eleanor 

 Cathoart, Ught crimson, spotted with chocolate; Bouquet de 

 Flore, a profusion of spotted crimson flowers, very large trusses ; 

 Blandyanum, rosy crimson ; Sir Thomas Sebright, rich purple; 

 Nigreecens, dark purple ; Maculatnm nigrum, dark rose-spotted ; 



