December 22, 1870, ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



493 



would form compact edgiDgs, or even Cerasliums, and then the 

 Centaurea and Cineraria could come in for centre?, or inter- 

 mediate rows between scarlets or purples. 



You state that 12 and 13 are much larger than they are re- 

 presented in the sketch. As given, even, they are so much 

 larger than the other pair of beds that unity in size is de- 

 stroyed. We do not see your object in thus biingiog out these 

 two clumps with such a long tail, unless you wished to avoid 

 the pathway between them being directly opposite the path- 

 way in the eight corner beds. We would avoid this, and have 

 these beds similar in size by having a circle between them. 

 We would be inclined to do the same between 10 and 11, and 

 15 and 16. The whole group would then be more regular and 

 equally balanced. — R. F.] 



IMPERFECT HYBRIDITY. 



Amoxg the same batch of Beedlings from which I obtained x Vero- 

 nica Andersoni {V. salicifolia — syn. V. Lindleyana, with V. speciosa) 

 came one which, to all appearance, was a reprodnction of the male 

 parent pure and simple. And, deeming it nothing else, I presented it 

 to a friend, V. speciosa being then comparatively a new plant ; and 

 he, when he flowered it, came to tell me that it had come a very dif- 

 ferent thing when in bloom from the true V. speciosa, having much 

 longer flower- spikes, and beiDg of a much lighter colour than those in 

 that species — that is, of a light crimson instead of a dark purple as in 

 the V. 6peciosa. 



A plant of this hvbrid has since afforded a further illustration of a 

 somewhat similar result. 



Having obtained a suffruticose species of Veronica under the name 

 of x V. Daubenyana, with light-coloured flowers streaked with pink 

 lines, in the way of V. fruticulosa, I crossed it on the last-mentioned 

 hybrid, which became the seed-bearer. From this cross I succeeded 

 iu raising only two plants, and one of these I believe I have lost. But 

 they seemed both alike in foliage and habit, but both so like the hybrid 

 seed-bearer that I felt doubtful whether the cross had taken. I cannot 

 speak with confidence as to their being identically alike, but only of 

 their general aspect. The plant I Btill possess flowered for the first 

 time this past seasoD, and the singularity of its bloom drew my atten- 

 tion to it more particularly than before. It had, like the seed-bearer, 

 thick, fleshy, oblong leaves, but somewhat smaller and more closely 

 set on the stem ; but instead of being, like it, simply crassiform [?], 

 they were obliquely decussate, therein slightly approaching the male 

 parent, a creeping alpiue species, whose prostrate stems show still 

 more the same deflected arrangement of the leaves. It was only on a 

 ciose examination of the parts, however, that any resemblance to the 

 male, x V. Daubenyana, could be observed. In fact, I looked upon 

 it as another of the many failures I had had in my attempts to effect 

 the inverse cross on it. When it at last bloomed my hopes of having 

 effected a partial cross, if I may use such a term, were strengthened. 

 Like x V. Daubenyana, which has a spikelet with a few blooms, it 

 came even short of it, having had only two flowers, and these much 

 lighter in colou:, and so nearer to the nialo than the hybrid female 

 parent. But whether this is its true permanent character I dare not 

 assert, aB it bore no more than this one spikelet of two flowers. 



In the first of the above instances the hybrid seemed, till it flowered, 

 a repetition of the male parent ; in the second it seemed, till it bloomed, 

 a repetition of the female parent, with such Blight differences in the 

 arrangement and slightly Emaller size of the foliage as might occur in 

 a purely normal seedling. Iu fact, seldom have I ever seen two hybrids 

 with so much of one parent and so little of the other. 



I have no doubt something of the same kind occurs among Rhodo- 

 dendrons ; but I may only instance two cases — one where I crossed 

 B. Edgworthii on R. caucasicum ; the seedlings, always few when the 

 cross is a severe one (by which term I mean such instances as where 

 the species do not affect each other kindly), were only two in number ; 

 and though now about ten years old, they show no indications of 

 setting for flower. But while they have both the glabrous foliage of 

 the eeed-bearer, and even the ochreons tint underneath, they differ in 

 having oblong instead of its lanceolate leaves. But, thoagh in these 

 particulars they depart from the normal state of R. cancasicnm, they 

 have not one feature of R. Edgworthii, the male parent. The other 

 case is where I crossed the same, Rhododendron Edgworthii on R. Jen- 

 Mnsii. Here the seedlings, again only two in number, were all of the 

 mother, except by having again the oblong foliage, in which, be it 

 observed, it is a departure from both parents, both having lanceolate 

 leaves — those of R. Jenkinsii being acutely so, but the hybrid in these 

 iatter cases is budded for flower, but the flowers of both parents aro 

 white, and both sweet-scented, and both among the largest of the 

 genus; the scents, texture, and forms of the flowerB are different, so 

 that I look for surer tests in the coming flowers — though these may be 

 perplexing too — than any that yet appeals. It is proper to observe 

 that I take the utmost precaution, in all my crossing operations, to 

 prevent miscarriage in any possible way. 



While treating of my difficulties with the Rhododendron Edgworthii, 

 one of the most peculiarly constituted, as it is one of the most pecu- 

 iarly featured, of all the Rhododendrom tribe— having its rugose 

 eaves densely pubescent on the upper, while it is perfectly shaggy with 



tomentum on the under side, every stem being clothed with the same 

 tomentum — I have another most singular peculiarity to note in regard 

 to it, viz., that while it will cross other species, it will take on a cross 

 from none ; that is to say, while it has been repeatedly made the male, 

 it has never with me, though I have tried it often, nor with anyone 

 else that I have heard of, submitted to become the female parent. 1 

 have crossed it repeatedly on Rhododendron ciliatum, one of the minor 

 forms, too, of Dr. Hooker's Himalayan species. It has been crossed 

 on R. formosnm in this neighbourhood, I believe in the Stanwell 

 Nursery, but I never could get it to take on any cross whatever. Rho- 

 dodendron Nuttallii behaved with me in the same manner ; it would 

 cross but not be crossed. But I did not persevere with it as I did with 

 R. Edgworthii. Now, I do not assert absolutely that Rhododendron 

 Edgworthii, in the numerous tribe of which it is a member, may not 

 be hybridised with some other of its kindred, but I could never get it 

 to reciprocate a cross. 



And this remarkable circumstance of non-reciprocity has perplexed 

 and defied me in innumerable instances throughout my long experience 

 in these pursuits. It occurs to me that the pollen of larger forms 

 might be of larger grains, and so might not pass through the neces- 

 sarily small ducts of the styles of smaller species. Yet Rhododendron 

 ciliatum, a tiny species of 1 foot high, was crossed freely by R. Edg- 

 worthii, as I have just noticed — a species 6 feet high. I even crossed 

 this latter species on a pure Indian Azalea, though, by pulling the 

 seed-pod before it was ripe, I raised no seeds of this latter cross. 



In these hasty observations I merely wish to direct attention to such 

 instances of imperfect hybridity in certain species, and the non-reci- 

 procity in others, as I have noticed, in the hope of perhaps drawing 

 out from others their experience on such matters, which I humbly 

 think are not unworthy the consideration of the Scientific Committee. 

 — I. Akdersox-Hesht. — [Bead at the last meeting of the Scientific- ■ 

 Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society. ] 



GARDENERS' PRIZES FOR VEGETABLES- A3T 



THE HOTAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY'S NOTTINGHAM SHOYY". 



At a meeting of a committee of gardeners, held at Stamford, for 

 the purpose of carrying out Mr. Gilbert's scheme for gardeners' prizes 

 for vegetables at the Royal Horticultural Society's forthcoming Show 

 at Nottingham, Mr. Smith, of Exton Park, was appointed Honorary 

 Secretary and Treasurer ; and as it is necessary that the amount 

 required (£20), should he collected without delay, in order that the 

 prizes may be placed at the disposal of the Society in time for tho 

 issue of the local prize schedule, it is requested that all gardeners- 

 desiring to subscribe will at once send their subscriptions to Mr. James- 

 Smith. Eston Park Gardens, Oakham ; post-office orders to be payable 

 at Oakham. 



It was determined at the meeting that the amount should be divided 

 into three prizes, of the respective values of £10, £0, and £4, to be 

 given either in watches or money, at the option of the winners. An 

 offer by Mr. Chapman, of Gloucester, of one of his patent exhibiting 

 cases as a further prize, was accepted. The following subscriptions 

 have been received by the Honorary Secretary and Treasurer : — 



£ s. cX 



Gilbert, Mr., Burghley Park, Stamford 5 0- 



Smith, Mr., Exton Park, Oakham 5. • 



Ctilder, Mr., Casewick, Slumlord 6 



Ensten, Mr., gardener to T. Laxton, Esq., Stamford .... 5 



Meiken, Mr., Reed Hall, Whalley 5 



Peacbey, M»., Quom Lodge, Loughborough 5 0'* 



Taylor, Mr , Lon^leat Crardeus, Warminster 5 r - 



Hitcheil, Mr , Kuddiugton Hall, Nottingham O 5 3-- 



CYCLAMEN SEEDLINGS BLOOMING WHEN 

 TEN MONTHS OLD. 



One of your contributors (page 467) says that Cyclamens 

 exhibited at the Bojal Horticultural Buciety were grown from 

 seed, and flowered fit for exhibition in ten months. How is it 

 to be done ? I should i-eitiinly be glad to know. 



I sowed seeds of the Persian Cyclamen on the 10ih of March 

 last, pricked them out into biutul pots when large enough to 

 handle, and repotted them in August. They now look very 

 healihy, but they are very small, and I fear will show but littla 

 bloom even twelve months hence. I am a great admirer of 

 that beautiful flower the Persian CyclameD, and should bo 

 pleased to be able to grow it more quickly, and so, I doubt not, 

 would be a great many more of your leaders. — W. Scott. 



[We wish snrrie of our readers would detail the mode of so 

 hastening the Cyclamen seedling's flowering. — Eds.] 



'•Peas in December — Ice in June"- — were the wonders of 

 our ancestors, but with us are no rarities. One instance is 

 now before us. Mr. Bannister in his gardeD, on St. Boniface 

 Terrace, Yentnor, Isle of Wight, gathered a dish of green Peas 



