ON TREES AND SHRUBS. 



449 



all the dwarf-growing Rhododendrons, R. racemosiim is pre- 

 eminent. It is perfectly hardy, of neat growth, and par- 

 ticularly useful for the rock garden. The leathery leaves are 

 small, deep green above, and glaucous beneath. The small 

 flowers are pink, and the unopened buds are bright rose-pink, 

 and borne in axillary and terminal clusters in early spring. 

 R. Fortunei is one of the most delightful of all the hardy sweet- 

 scented Rhododendrons. The fragrant bell-shaped flowers, 

 produced in dense trusses, are white suffused with delicate pink. 

 The leaves are quite smooth and of a beautiful glaucous grey 

 colour. It is quite hardy. This charming species has beem 

 crossed with some of the Himalayan species, as well as with 

 some of the finer hardy varieties, with the result that the 

 Fortunei hybrids are amongst the most handsome of outdoor 

 Rhododendrons. The following are specially good varieties : 

 Luscombei is rare, with delicately-tinted flowers ; Duke of York 

 carries great clusters of bright pink flowers, spotted with brown 

 on the upper petals — very free flowering ; Duchess of York is a 

 capital companion to it, the flowers being soft pink, running to 

 rose-pink towards the edges of the roundish petals, the upper 

 ones being spotted with green ; Mrs. W. T. Thiselton-Dyer is 

 perhaps the most beautiful of the Fortunei hybrids, the compact 

 trusses of rose-pink flowers blotched with maroon being very 

 handsome. Profusion, H. M. Arderne, and High Beech Hybrid 

 all merit attention. 



Other choice hybrids and crosses are : Ma?iglesii (R. Aucklandt 

 X album elega?is), which is vigorous and quite hardy. Its 

 handsome trusses of large well-shaped flowers are white, with 

 dark spots on the outer segments. prcECox {R. ciliatum x 

 dauricum), one of the first to blossom in the open air, is of 

 dwarf, compact habit, and very floriferous, the colour being a 

 delicate shade of rose. As it flowers so early in the year — often 

 about the middle of February during mild v/inters — it is in 

 great demand for forcing. It is sub-evergreen. Wi/soni {R, 

 ciliatum % glaucum) is intermediate in character between its 

 parents. The flowers are pale pink, with a rosy-pink exterior. 

 kewense (R. Griffithianum x Hookeri) (Fig 284), an exception- 

 ally valuable addition to the garden, is quite hardy near 

 London, beautiful in foliage, and dainty when in blossom. The 

 flowers are large, white, with a faint suffusion of pink or rose, 

 and produced very freely in loose trusses in May. noblea?ium 

 {R. caucasicum x arboreum\ flowering very soon after R. prcBcox, 

 is therefore useful for a similar purpose ; and Cunningham's 

 White {R. 7Jiaximum x R. concessum) is another first-rate sort, 

 the flower-trusses being large, well-formed, white, with dark spots. 



Rhododendrons are readily increased by seeds (in the case 

 of species), cuttings, layers, and grafting. For the seeds, which 

 should be sown soon after they are gathered, a peaty, well-drained 



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