MY SHRUBS 103 
path. The time is still far distant when I go botanising on an 
old bear path ; but I am none the less filled with hearty admiration, 
untinctured by jealousy, for those spirited pioneers who pursue 
their floral quarries even in the face of such possible opposition. 
It is true that Mr. William Watson, one of the greatest of English 
botanists and our first authority on the rhododendron race, speaks 
of “old” bear paths. But you never know. Old bears—the real, 
conservative “‘ backwoodsmen ” sort of bears—would be almost 
certain to prefer the old paths ; and equally certain to resent an 
intruder upon them. 
Before reluctantly dragging myself away from Rhododendron, 
I may mention the “‘ agaleodendrons,’”’ as they are called by some 
gardeners. ‘They have resulted from the marriage of a yellow 
azalea and a seedling evergreen rhododendron, and the result, as 
it appears in R. Broughtonit and R. Smithit aureum, is exceedingly 
beautiful. They are hardy evergreens, with fine trusses of yellow 
blossoms of good size and beautiful shape. I hunger much for 
R. Lodert, but know not where to find it. This superb cross 
between R. Griffithianum and R. Fortunei was made by Sir E. 
Loder at his far-famed gardens of Leonardslee. The flowers are 
very large and very fragrant, and the plant is vigorous and hardy ; 
but I think it has not found its way to the public of Rhodo-lovers 
as yet. The Javanese rhododendrons, yellow, white, pink, and 
scarlet, are very beautiful pot-plants, but demand the heat of the 
stove and unlimited moisture. Few amateurs succeed with them. 
Of their hybrids, R. “ Souvenir of Mr. Mangles” is a brilliant 
beauty—bright salmon pink. 
Rhodora canadensis is a deciduous rhododendron whose pale 
purple flowers appear before the leaves; while Rhodothamnus 
