498 



THE GAKDENER'S ASSISTANT. 



Although these are wild on very high mountains, 

 they will not thrive under cultivation in a house 

 the temperature of which falls below 50°; indeed 

 they are what we term intermediate-house plants. 

 So far they have refused to cross with other 

 sections of the genus, the numerous hybrids and 

 seedlings raised by Messrs. Veitch & Sons being 

 confined to the species named and their progeny. 



leggy, they may be cut down in May and kept 

 rather dry at the root in a close moist atmo- 

 sphere. This will induce them to break freely 

 into new growth. Large plants do well when 

 planted in a shallow border of peaty soil. Cut- 

 tings of the ripening shoots, if placed in a warm 

 propagating case, strike root in about six weeks. 

 In a dry atmosphere the plants soon become 

 infested with thrips. Mealy- 

 bug also is apt to become 

 troublesome. The plants 

 should be examined and thor- 

 oughly cleaned at least twice 

 a year. 



Selection of Sokts. 



orange-red toned 



Pig. 604.— Rhododendron— Multicolor hybrid. 



The value of this section of the genus has 

 scarcely a parallel among the whole of the 

 tender shrubs we cultivate. They form leafy 

 evergreen bushes, and produce large compact 

 heads of tubular, wax-like flowers of clear, often 

 brilliant colours, and they remain fresh for 

 several weeks. The plants are always in growth, 

 consequently they are never out of flower, fully 

 developed blooms, buds lately matured, and 

 new growth being usual upon plants in good 

 health. Messrs. Veitch exhibited cut -flowers 

 from these Rhododendrons every fortnight for 

 over two years. The colours of their flowers 

 range from pure-white to rose-pink, salmon- 

 pink, scarlet, and deep-crimson; there are also 

 pure-yellow varieties. 



Cultivation. — A moist, partially -shaded posi- 

 tion in an intermediate house, where the tem- 

 perature in winter is never lower than from 50° 

 to 60°, affords suitable conditions for the healthy 

 growth of these plants. They should be potted 

 in good sandy peat, in roomy well-drained pots, 

 and they should never be allowed to get dry. 

 In hot weather they should be frequently 

 syringed. At the same time a stagnant condi- 

 tion must be avoided. Should the plants get 



Ajax. Bright 

 with tawny-yellow. 



Amabile. Flowers large, pale-flesh 

 tinted with rose. 



Aphrodite. Blush-pink suffused 

 with white. 



Apollo. Orange-red, large truss; 

 handsome foliage. 



Ariel. Flowers fully 3 inches in 

 diameter, of wax-like texture, clear 

 bright-yellow. 



Balsaminceflorum album. Double 

 white, large trusses. 



Var. aureum. Bright - yellow 

 flowers. 



Var. carneum. Flesh - coloured 

 tinted with rose. 

 Var. Rajah. Flower over 2 inches in diameter, bright 

 fawn -yellow tinted with rose towards the margin. 

 Var. roseum. Rose-pink suffused with light-orange. 

 Baroness Henry Schrocder. Delicate blush-white. 

 Brilliant. Scarlet flowers, 2| inches in diameter. 

 Ceres. Bright tawny-yellow. 



Cloth of Gold. Light golden-yellow, large, fine form. 

 Conqueror. Red shaded orange, paler centre. 

 Duchess of Connaught. Vermilion-red; compact truss. 

 Exquisite. Trusses 6 inches in diameter; flowers large, 

 fawn-yellow with a faint tinge of rose, anthers crimson. 



Hercules. The largest truss with the largest flowers; 

 fawn-yellow toned with rose-pink. 



Little Beauty. Flowers in clusters of six to nine, 

 carmine-scarlet ; plant dwarf and bushy. 



Lord Wolseley. Bright orange-yellow tinted with rose. 

 Luteo-roseum. Satiny-rose, toned with light-yellow. 

 Ne plus ultra. Crimson- scarlet, large globose truss. 

 President. Buff-yellow tinted with rose; compact habit. 

 Primrose. The purest primrose-yellow yet obtained. 

 Princess Alexandra. White with a faint tinge of blush. 

 Princess Beatrice. Light-yellow suffused with pink. 

 Purity. A beautiful white variety. 

 Rose Perfection. Light satiny-rose suffused with white. 

 Souvenir de J. H. Mangles (fig. 605). Orange-yellow 

 suffused with rose-pink ; large well-formed flowers. 

 Taylori. Bright-pink with white tube ; very free. 

 Triumphans. Crimson-scarlet ; a splendid variety. 



Multicolor Hybrids (fig. 604). — Obtained 

 by crossing varieties of the javanico-jasminiflorum 



