292 GENERAL REVIEW. 



Kalmia. N. American hardy shrubs of dwarf habit, flower- 

 ing very profusely in the spring or early summer, and readily 

 propagated by cuttings of the young growth inserted in a bed 

 of soil surfaced with sand or grit, and covered with a hand- 

 light or frame. Cuttings taken oif in August root best. Seeds 

 grow freely treated as recommended for Rhododendrons. Seed- 

 ling plants of the common kinds may be employed as stocks 

 on which to graft or inarch the rarer kinds. I believe nothing 

 has been done in the way of hybridising, so that this field is 

 open ; and few plants present more attractions, for the flowers 

 are unrivalled in purity and beauty by any other exotic. The 

 flowers resemble little white umbrellas, the eight stamens 

 forming the ribs, the end of each being deftly tucked into a 

 little pocket or angle in the corolla. A cross might possibly 

 be effected between Kalmia and Arbutus or Andromeda at 

 any rate, the attempt is worth making ; or perhaps the Arbutus 

 might be used as a stock on which to graft Kalmias or 

 Andromedas, or vice versa (see ' Amer. Agric.,' July 1876). 



Menziesia. A genus of dwarf-growing shrubs nearly related 

 to the Heaths, which they also resemble in size, and in their 

 spires of well-shaped white, bluish-lilac, or rosy-striped flowers. 

 They are natives of North America, North Europe, and other 

 countries, and are generally found on dry heathy moors. M. 

 polifolia, St Dabeoc's or Irish Heath, is found on the granite 

 mountains of Galway ; and M. ccendea is found in Scotland as 

 well as in North America. These pretty little plants may be 

 propagated from seeds ; but in some cases artificial fertilisation 

 is necessary to insure a supply of these in a fertile or perfect 

 state. Cuttings of the young growth maybe struck in sand 

 in a cold frame under a cloche or bell-glass. Seeds should be 

 sown as soon as ripe in a pan of sandy peat, and placed in a 

 cold frame to germinate. The seeds should be sown thinly, so 

 as not to overcrowd each other in the pan, as they are very 

 impatient of being moved until they have made considerable 

 growth. Trie bell-shaped drooping flowers are very lovely. 

 Bryanthus erectus is a hybrid, the parents being M. c&rulea and 

 Rhododendron chanmcistus. They might doubtless be crossed 

 with some of the hardy Ericas, and a more beautiful race of 

 hybrids be thus obtained, having a more robust habit. 



Rhododendron. A very beautiful genus of evergreen flower- 

 ing shrubs, represented in our gardens by numerous hardy 

 varieties. The species are natives of North America, the 

 Caucasus, Gibraltar, Java, Borneo, China, Japan, and the Sik- 

 kim Himalayas, whence Dr Hooker introduced seeds of so 

 many fine species about 1848. All the species may be propa- 



