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HYBRID RHODODENDRONS. 



hybrids, such as Altaclarense, &c, we have still retained the 

 rich tints of the Indian kinds, with all the hardiness of the 

 American; and what is of equal import, the results of such 

 crossings are the production of varieties which have a tendency 

 to bloom in a very young- and dwarf state, and sufficiently late 

 in the season to escape spring frosts, producing their flowers from 

 the middle of May till the latter part of June. 



As so little is known in connection with the nature and effect 

 of hybridizing amongst plants, we shall take this opportunity 

 of endeavouring to describe, with reference to the Rhododen- 

 dron, some of the peculiarities which a very extensive practice 

 has presented to us. We find that, analogous to what is observed 

 in the animal kingdom, the greater the cross the more healthy 

 the progeny, and that breeding " in and in " produces weak and 

 deteriorated constitutions. We have a remarkable instance of 

 this in a batch of hybrids, raised from Caucasicum album (that 

 being a hybrid), fertilized by its own pollen. The plants are 

 extremely dwarf, with variegated foliage. So dwarf are they, 

 that many of them had eight or ten flower buds on, when only from 

 4 to 6 inches high, and four years old. They, however, bloomed 

 quite freely when only three years old, and about as many inches 

 high. Flowers produced by these dwarfs were again fertilized 

 by their own farina, and although seeds were produced and 

 vegetated, the plants could not be kept alive, but after various 

 durations of existence, from two to eighteen months, they finally 

 disappeared. One of the dwarfs above-named, which we have 

 called " Bride," fertilized with the pollen from another distinct 

 hybrid, has however produced some very healthy seedlings. A 

 remarkable example of the varied nature which hybridizing 

 effects in the Rhododendron is afforded in a hybrid raised from 

 R. Catawbiense by a large yellow Ghent Azalea. The object 

 was to raise a hardy yellow hybrid, but in this we have been 

 disappointed, as it has proved to be pink, and we have named 

 it " Deception." It is an extraordinary cross; we never recollect 

 meeting with so decided a " sport." It resembles neither of its 

 parents, being one of our best growers, with foliage large and 

 thick, of a bright green, and when in a young state it has the 

 appearance of being coated with varnish. Another remarkable 

 sport is a hybrid, which we have called Towardii, raised from 

 Catawbiense by Altaclarense, being a perfect giant in every 

 respect. The foliage is very fine, and the flowers, both indivi- 

 dually and in the truss, remarkably large, each forming a perfect 

 cup. We know no Rhododendron equal to it in size and per- 

 fection of flowers. 



Having shown some of the effects of hybridizing upon the 

 Rhododendron, and the various breeds produced, we would beg to 



