THE HEATH AND RHODODENDRON FAMILY. 301 



Apart from the hardy kinds, there is a very beautiful race of 

 warm greenhouse species, among which we may name the 

 following as excellent types for the hybridist to work upon : 

 JR. arboreum (crimson), R. argenteum (white), R. Brookei 

 flavum (orange yellow), R. fulgens (crimson scarlet), R. jas- 

 miniflorum (with clusters of pure white Stephanotis-like flowers), 

 R. javanicum (orange scarlet), R. tubiflorum (crimson or 

 reddish - purple flowers, very curious), R. retusum (reddish- 

 orange flowers in terminal clusters), R. virgatum (flowers rosy 

 white, the only species bearing axillary flowers). One of the 

 finest and earliest hybrids in this group was obtained by Mr 

 Lees, gardener to the Earl of Haddington at Tynningham. 

 This is "Countess of Haddington," a large white-flowered fragrant 

 variety, the result of a cross effected between R. Edgworthii 

 and R. Gibsonii. Another hybrid, R. multiflorum, was obtained 

 by Mr Davis, of Liverpool, by crossing R. ciliatum, a beautiful 

 hardy or half-hardy species from the Himalayas, with R. vir- 

 gatum. Another in the same class, R. " Duchess of Buccleuch," 

 was raised by Mr Fraser in the Leith Walk Nurseries, Edin- 

 burgh, this being a cross between R. Edgworthii and R. Gib- 

 sonii. " Prince of Wales " (Rollison) is the result of crossing R. 

 javanmim with R. retusum, and has clusters of bright reddish- 

 orange flowers. " Princess of Wales," " Princess Alice," 

 " Princess Helena," and " Princess Mary," are also lovely 

 white or rosy-white varieties, the last named having been 

 raised by Messrs Rollison, and is curious, as its clusters of 

 flowers are coloured like apple-blossoms. It is worth while 

 noting that Rhododendrons vary more when crossed in the 

 second generation that is to say, crosses between the hybrid 

 and cross-bred varieties vary more in colour and habit, and are 

 more floriferous, than is the case of the seedlings obtained be- 

 tween two species. There can be little doubt but that these 

 plants become crossed by insects freely in their native habitats. 

 That the bees visit these flowers we know from the ancient 

 account, which states that the Pontic honey which stupefied the 

 Greek soldiers was collected from R. ponticum, while other 

 historians give Azalea pontica as the plant. The pretty little 

 Austrian R. chamcecistus (see ' Bot. Mag./ t. 488) has been 

 crossed with the Scotch Menziesia, while Mr Anderson-Henry 

 believes he has crossed it with R. virgatum, a distinct species 

 known by its axillary flowers. The flowers of this plant (R. 

 chamcecistus] resemble those of a Kalmia in size and colour. 



Rhododendron hybrids of great beauty have been raised by 

 Messrs Veitch between R. javanicum and R. jasminiflorum, 

 one of the best being R. "Princess Royal," which has again been 



