104 
met with by him. The altitudinal limit of any one species is well- 
defined, and within this limit a species monopolises its own particular 
region. This phenomenon is extremely interesting and often gives 
rise to distinct belts of colour. R. Przewalskiit (R. kialense) attains 
the highest altitudinal range (14,500 ft.) of any of the large-leaved 
species. 
The Chinese Rhododendrons form their own peculiar groups, 
some of which are extremely difficult to deal with taxonomically. 
It may be that these groups represent several or few distinct 
species, or possibly one or more variable species in which 
the individuals intercross and give rise to numerous intermediate 
forms. any of the species hitherto described can only be regarded 
as provisional, and when our knowledge of these Chinese Rhodo- 
dendrons is more complete a general revision will be necessary. 
oodly number of them are now in cultivation in this country, and 
these should materially assist in elucidating some of the many 
problems necessarily connected with so large and unwieldy a genus. 
The genus is difficult owing to the fact that good and obvious 
The collection of Rhododendrons made by me in China 
consists of some 63 species. Seeds of practically all were sent 
ome, and with very few exceptions the species are in cultivation 
with Messrs. J. Veitch & Son, in their Coombe Wood Nursery. 
From the altitude and latitude in which they occur, it is highly 
probable that nearly all will prove hardy and amenable to cultiva- 
tion in this country. 
The pleasure derived from working out this collection has been 
heightened by the fact of its affording the collector an opportunity of 
commemorating the names of various people to whom he had been 
indebted for hospitality and assistance in some form or other during 
his wanderings in China 
The use of nearly all of the late Mr. Franchet’s types, for which 
Kew is indebted to the kindness of Mr. Lecomte, Director of the 
Paris collection, has rendered the task of determination very much 
easier than would otherwise have been possible—E. H. W. 
