The Evergreen Rhododendrons 



are aimed at in producing a really first-rate Rhodo- 

 dendron by cross-breeding. It must be hardy to with- 

 stand our winters ; its foliage must be bold and of 

 good size ; the flower-clusters must be large, compact 

 and of a conical outline ; the colour of the flowers 

 should be attractive ; finally, the shrub should not 

 flower much before June, or it is liable to have its 

 beauty dashed by late frosts. 



It is impossible to give any full indication as to 

 what special varieties should be encouraged in a garden, 

 there are so many that stand on an equal- footing of 

 merit, but one may perhaps mention as representative : 



Snowflake, with white flowers. 



Pink Pearl, with pale pink flowers. 



Broughtonii, with carmine flowers. 



Doncaster, with brilliant red flowers. 



Old Port, with purple flowers. 



Sappho, with " blotched " (white, blotched with 



purple) flowers. 



The common species, R. ponticum, is difficult to 

 beat for typical purple blossoms. 



R. catawbiense, "perhaps the most valuable shrub 

 for ornament ever introduced " into British gardens, is 

 chiefly responsible, through its varieties and the hybrid 

 forms that have been bred from it, for a large, very 

 hardy and altogether the best group of garden varie- 

 ties that are early flowering, viz. late May and June. 

 J 133 



