272 ARISTOCRATS OF THE GARDEN 



other ways than mere hardiness. In Germany, where 

 the climate is more severe than in Great Britain, 

 a certain amount of Rhododendron breeding has in 

 recent years been done and two hybrids — Viola, 

 with white flowers, and Albert, with pale pink flowers 

 — promise to succeed with us. But it will not solve 

 our problem if such hybrids are raised and nurtured 

 in lands where a milder climate obtains. Furnish 

 the garden with material grown in a region as cold as 

 or colder than that where the garden is situated should 

 be a fundamental rule among garden lovers. If some 

 of us spend a few years in Florida and then winter 

 in Massachusetts we shall feel the cold more than 

 will those who have never left the state and very 

 much more so than others inured to the climate of 

 Labrador. It is the same with plants. 



The results obtained by the inter-crossing of the 

 five hardy species will in all probability be lacking 

 in color, and pale washy pink and pink colors predom- 

 inate, for since none of the parents has highly colored 

 flowers we must not expect them in the progeny. In the 

 historical note it is shown that on this account 

 Rhododendron breeding in England languished for 

 years — until the advent of species from the Hima- 

 layas with deep rose, scarlet, and crimson flowers. 

 The intense colors in the hybrid Rhododendrons 



