292 
THE GARD EN] DWAGCHeZar Na ‘ 
JUNE, 1916 
northeastern Asia and on the tops of high 
mountains in Hokkaido, Japan, where I have 
gathered it in flower on the last days of July 
with unmelted snow in patches lying around. 
It is, however, an alpine plant and though 
introduced to cultivation about 1800 and again 
about 1850, has never been a successful garden 
plant. This being the case it is on the above 
named five species that all our hopes are cen- 
tered and it is in the commingling of ‘heir 
blood that we must look for the foundations of 
a race of large-leaved evergreen Rhododendrons 
capable of withstanding the rigors and vagaries 
of this climate. And we are really fortunate 
to possess five species which, as we have seen, 
is more than was known when the work began 
in England. 
Theoretically, if the parents are hardy the 
offspring will be equally so but in plant breed- 
ing this does not always work out in practice. 
For example, there are hybrid offspring of R. 
maximum and Rk. catawbiense such as R. 
wellesleyanum, which have proved anything but 
hardy. Again, in the Arnold Arboretum many 
plants of Delicatissimum, a hybrid between 
these two American species and for the last 
thirty years considered one of the hardiest and 
most desirable of the Rhododendrons which 
have been planted in New England, succumbed 
from the effects of the winter of 1914-15. Thus 
caution is necessary; but, in cross-breeding 
among the five species of proven hardiness, 
there is every possibility of evolving a very 
tough hybrid race. But to ensure success it 
should be done in this country as far north as 
possible, so that the progeny may become in- 
ured to the climate from their babyhood up. 
Except in time and place such work as is 
advocated here is not altogether de novo. I 
do not know if R. brachycarpum has been ex- 
ORE years of my life than I care 
to remember have been spent in 
searching the remote parts of 
eastern Asia for new plants of 
value for the embellishment of western 
gardens. The work has not been devoid 
of hardship and its spice of danger; but 
if the art of gardening and the science 
of horticulture benefit thereby, the 
years have been well spent. 
On my return in the early spring of 
1915, from a year’s work in the empire 
of Japan, I was curious to discover, if 
possible, how much genuine interest ex- 
isted in this country in the matter of 
gardens and how widespread the inter- 
est might be. After much thought I 
concluded that a measurable test might 
be made by publishing a series of arti- 
cles, general yet comprehensive in char- 
acter. The kindergarten element had 
no place in my scheme any more than 
that exalted in the ranks. The ques- 
tion could be properly answered only 
by the class who had some knowledge of 
the art, and in whom interest and love 
were already aroused. With this object 
in mind, but not divulged, I approached 
the Editor of THE GARDEN MAGAZINE. 
This gentleman encouraged me most 
cordially and his liberality in the mat- 
ter of space, his codperation and the 
courteous manner in which he has met 
every suggestion have made the task an 
enjoyable one. In concluding the series 
I feel impelled to confess to the Hdi- 
tor and readers of THE GARDEN MAGA- 
ZINE the object which prompted these 
articles. 
My question has been answered in a 
manner that cannot be mistaken. Let- 
ters have reached me from East and 
perimented with; but the others have, and with 
encouraging results, especially R. Smirnowii, a 
hybrid of which is giving much satisfaction in 
the Arnold Arboretum. The Lace-wing Fly is a 
bad pest on Rhododendrons in which the under- 
surface of the leaf is smooth and green but it 
cannot attack R. Smirnoww the undersurface 
of whose leaves is clothed with a felt of woolly 
hairs. This species promises therefore to be 
of value in other ways than mere hardiness. 
In Germany where the climate is more severe 
than that of 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 or colder than that 
where the garden is situated should be a fun- 
damental rule among garden lovers. If some of 
us spend a few years in Florida and then win- 
ter 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 
lants. 
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 predominate, for since none of the 
parents has highly colored flowers we must not 
expect it 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 Himalaya 
with deep rose, scarlet and crimson flowers. 
The intense colors in the hybrid Rhododen- 
drons of to-day came from this Himalayan ele- 
EPILOGWE 
West, North and South, and from all the 
States which link these compass points. 
That there is in this country a universal 
awakening in the interest of outdoor 
gardening and to the recognition of the 
fact that a garden transforms a dwell- 
ing into a home, is proved to the hilt. 
The art of gardening and the love for 
hardy flowers has come to stay. 
Now, in gardening and in the full and 
proper development of its spirit, there 
are four elemental forces: the Amateur, 
the Gardener, the Trade, the Press. 
Their respective spheres of usefulness 
are self-evident. They are co-equal and 
interdependent and each, by itself, can 
accomplish nothing. Neither can any 
dual or triple combination of these 
forces attain anything of real and last- 
ing value. The quadruple alliance is 
absolutely essential in the art and love 
of gardening. No one of these forces 
is the master key, for that is held by the 
Spirit of man which, no matter how 
glossed over by the struggle for exist- 
ence, by the sordid cares of every day 
life, by ambitious desire for wealth, 
power or ephemeral pleasures, ever 
craves for something outside itself, for 
those innocent joys, and objects of 
beauty which bounteous Nature has 
furnished in forest and woodland, in 
meadow and swamp, in valley and on 
hill-top. And the more cultured a race 
or nation becomes, the more incessant 
grows the spirit. 
The present-day energy of each of 
these four elemental forces could be 
subjected to criticism, for wholesome 
criticism is healthful; yet rather would 
I urge each to consider its function and 
resolve accordingly. 
ment and especially from R. arboreum. Again, 
our position here is more fortunate than that 
of English pioneers since the fruit of their 
labor is at our disposal. To give color to our 
new race we can employ the red flowered Atro- 
sanguineum, Charles Dickens and H. W. Sar- 
gent which are among the hardiest of all 
hybrids. 
Furthermore, the great wealth of material 
from western China is likely to be of much 
service for though it cannot withstand New 
England winters it is much hardier than the 
Himalayan element and there are species like 
k. calophytum, R. oreodoxa, R. Fargesii, R. 
orbiculare and R. strigillosum with flowers of 
rich and beautiful colors. These and very 
many others are thriving and flowering in 
England where hybrids between them are bein 
raised and by the time our hardy home-bre 
race is ready ample new material to assist its 
development will be available. 
Gardens are destined to become in this 
country just as popular and as necessary a 
part of the home as they are on the other side 
of the Atlantic and whosoever works for their 
advancement and embellishment will not labor 
in vain. On the lines here briefly sketched 
there is every reasonable possibility of breed- 
ing a race of broad-leaved evergreen Rhododen- 
drons capable of withstanding the vagaries of 
the New England climate and in no respect 
inferior to the present race of hybrids whose 
only fault here is its uncertain hardiness. I 
have no doubt but that sooner or later some 
one, amateur or professional, will take up the 
task and suceeeds and the monument erected 
will be more enduring than any of bronze or 
stone for it will have its foundation in the 
Barts of all who love their country and their 
ome. 
Arboreta, Botanic Gardens and all 
plant experimental institutions have a 
value not yet properly understood, for 
their collections and experiments dem- 
onstrate the wealth of material avail- 
able and its adaptability to garden 
needs. 
Horticultural exhibitions are a po- 
tent agency in furthering the knowl- 
‘edge and love of plants, but if the 
exhibits were more generally and more 
legibly labelled the educational value of 
such exhibitions would be enormously 
enhanced. 
Societies founded for the advance- 
ment of horticulture generally and for 
that of particular flowers are a natural 
and inevitable outcome of the desire for 
gardens and for mutual help and inter- 
course. Garden clubs, so rapidly being 
formed and so enthusiastically devel- 
oped, is another most welcome sign of 
the awakening that is in progress. And 
so, in laying down his pen, a mission- 
ary of horticulture can express himself 
as satisfied that the people of this 
country are beginning to appreciate the 
truth so admirably enunciated by Lord 
Bacon, when he says of gardens: 
“God Almighty first planted a garden, 
and, indeed, it is the purest of human 
pleasures. It is the greatest refresh- 
ment to the spirits of man, without 
which buildings or palaces are but 
gross handiworks. And a man should 
ever see that when ages grow to 
civility and elegancy men come to build 
stately sooner than to garden finely, 
as if gardening were the greater per- 
fection.” 
E. H. WILSON. 
Arnold Arboretum. 
