The species presently being used are the natives R. roseam and R. vis- 

 cosum, two other eastern American species, the stoloniferous R. atlandcum 

 Rehd. and the red flowered R. cumberlandense E. L. Br., and an Asiatic 

 species R. japonicum Suringar. 



Present progress includes the selection of parents for further breeding 

 from an unusual progeny of R. japonicum which displayed extreme forms 

 of color and stature. This progeny resulted from an attempt in 1950 to 

 cross R. japonicum with R. canadense. No true hybrids appeared nor were 

 the offspring identical with the female parent but they did show extreme 

 expression of the female characters of flower color, foliage type and gen- 

 eral growth habit. These may be homozygous individuals. Only future breed- 

 ing results can answer this question. Successful crosses have been made be- 

 tween R. roseum and six selections of these R. japonicum. It will be an- 

 other year at least before these bloom. Successful crosses have also been 

 made with R. japonicum as either male or female parent and R. viscosum 

 and R. altanticum but these are still in either the seed or early seedling 



stages. 



A progeny of R. altanticum x R. roseum gave scattered bloom this year 

 with a promising show of some of the better flower and plant characters 

 of both. 



Advantage was taken of this first bloom to make crosses with R, viscosum 

 and selected R. japonicum, from which plump seeds have been harvested. 



Another approach in this same group of azaleas is being made which 

 may be productive of good results. This is backcrossing to the native species 

 and R. japonicum of some of the Exbury azaleas which are the result of 

 Lionel de Rothchilds' lifelong efforts in breeding azaleas. These English 

 hybrids are the finest things yet seen in this section of azaleas but are of 

 doubtful hardiness for New Hampshire. Crosses have been made with R. 

 roseum, R. atlanticum, {R. atlanticum v R. roseum), R. viscosum, R. cum- 

 berlandense and several selections of R. japonicum. Although considerable 

 sterility was evident some plump seeds resulted from each combination. 

 Even if it is necessary to carry these progenies to the F2 generation in 

 order to carry them through our winters this approach deserves full ex- 

 ploration. 



3. The third area of azalea breeding is based on two eastern Asiatic 

 species of the R. obtusum group. 



This R. obtusum group of azaleas is largely evergreen and includes the 

 spectacular species and varieties used in gardens as far north as Washing- 

 ton, D. C. and Long Island. New York. R. poukhanensis Levi, from Korea 

 and R. kaempjeri Planch, from Japan have little evergreen tendency 

 but are much hardier than any other species of the group. Specimens of 

 both species have been growing in New Hampshire and Maine for years 

 including R. poukhanensis collected in Korea by Elwyn Meader. 



Our approach to this breeding project is to backcross the highly de- 

 veloped garden varieties to these species and follow through to the F^ 

 generation, hoping to combine hardiness with some of the finer qualities 

 of the tender garden varieties. 



Crosses have been made on R. poukhanensis and to a lesser extent on R. 

 kaempjeri with some of the U.S.D.A. Glendale hybrids and some of the 

 Joseph Gable's hybrids. Plump seeds have been produced from the follow- 

 ing combinations: 



4 



