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and white species from the Himalayas, much prized for early 

 cutting. 



Ehododendron Countess of Haddington is a hybrid of 

 great beauty, producing blush-coloured flowers. The follow- 

 ing may also be mentioned as hybrids of merit ; — Fragrant- 

 issimum, Elegantissimum, Prince Leopold, Princess Alice, 

 Princess Helena, Princess Hortense, Princess Eoyal, Princess 

 of Wales, Denisoni. 



The foregoing would in England be classed as greenhouse 

 Khododendrons, but in this colony they will doubtless prove 

 hardy if planted in warm situations. They are all of very 

 great merit. 



In hardy Rhododendrons many varieties have been intro- 

 duced during the year. So successfully have hybridists been 

 at work of late years that the hardy Rhododendrons have 

 now, many of them, more or less of the Indian type imparted 

 to them, which has much improved the quality of flowers ; 

 but in some cases this has been attained at the expense of 

 hardihood. It is well known to the cultivators of Rhodo- 

 dendrons that the greater the affinity to the Himalayan 

 type the less hardy does the variety become. Some of the 

 best in this class of late introduction are : — 



James Marshall Brooks, a grand acquisition, producing 

 large trusses of flowers of a rich crimson colour. 



Boula de Neige, a beautiful dwarf early free-flowering 

 variety ; flowers of the purest white. 



Cunningham's White, an extra fine large white flowering 

 variety. 



Vesuvius, a tine bright crimson flowered variety. 



Ferdinand Louvrex, producing very large trusses of car- 

 mine striped flowers. 



Madame Linden, a fine masculated variety ; quite new. 



About a dozen varieties of the hardy Japan Azalea Mollis 

 have been received during 1883. This plant has only 

 recently come into general cultivation. It is superior as an 

 ornamental plant to Azalea Frontica, and will, in time, in all 

 probability, supplant that well known species. It is an 

 early bloomer, and is very valuable for forcing for decorative 

 purposes. 



One of the most interesting introductions of the past year 

 is Disa Grandiflora, a magnificent hardy terrestrial Cape 

 Orchid, only found on the summit of the Table Mountain. 

 This Orchid has always been held in repute by cultivators, 

 both on account of its great beauty as well as its hardy 

 constitution ; a cool greenhouse, or common frame, being 

 quite sufficient for its successful cultivation. 



Many efforts had been made to introduce this Orchid into 

 this colony, but every attempt resulted in failure ; the tubers 



