CROSS-FERTILISATION 43 



time of fertilisation to the ripening of the seeds a period 

 of from four to six months elapses. The seeds fall to the 

 ground and germinate in about two months (see chapter on 

 Propagation). 



It will be seen that to effect a cross between two different 

 varieties or species of Rhododendron, it is necessary to 

 remove the pollen early from the prospective mother flower, 

 and to supply pollen from the male flower when the stigma 

 is in a sticky condition, protecting it from mishap by en- 

 closing the whole flower in a muslin bag. Under glass this 

 precaution may not be necessary. The date of crossing 

 and the names of the two parents should be recorded in 

 a book, and a number attached to the flower to prevent 

 error. Pollination should be effected in the morning of 

 a sunny day. 



With regard to the selection of breeder plants, a little 

 forethought is advisable. Extremes are to be avoided, partly 

 because they are not so likely to cross well, but chiefly be- 

 cause their progeny is almost certain to lack quality. The 

 best results are obtained when closely allied species are 

 hybridised. Thus one of the very finest hybrids raised is 

 Loderi, from R. Griffithianum, and R. Fortunei, two closely 

 allied species ; another is Fosterianum, from R. Edgeworthii 

 and R. Veitchii ; a third being Shilsonii, from R. barbatum 

 and R. Thomsonii. Some interesting information on Rhodo- 

 dendron hybridisation by the late H. J. Mangles was pub- 

 lished in the Gardeners' Chronicle, Aug. 2, 1879, p. 136. He 

 tried to cross a large number of species, but met with many 

 failures through ignoring the fact that species that do not 

 show in their general character any affinity will not hybridise 

 satisfactorily. 



