30 



JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



' Auguste Van Gheert ' and campanulatttm ' Fleur de Roi,' * Standish's 

 Ascot Brilliant,' which are cut in April and precede the May army of 

 delightful and well-known varieties. In this class, were I to give preference 

 to one, I should select Broughtoni for size of truss, flower and leaf, and 

 free habit. 



We are indeed much indebted to such men as Mr. Anthony Waterer 

 of Knaphill, Mr. John Waterer of Bagshot, Mr. William Paul of Waltham 

 Cross, Mr. George Paul of Cheshunt, Mr. Veitch of Chelsea, Mr. Russell, 

 Mr. Broughton, Mr. Standish, Mr. Luscombe, Mr. Moore, Mr. Ingram, 

 Mr. Paxton, Mr. Mangles, Messrs Fisher, Son, and Sibray ; and in recent 

 years Mr. Gill, gardener to Mr. Shilson of Tremough, has given us some 

 notable hybrids in Shilsoni (barbatum and Thomsoni), 'Beauty of 

 Tremough,' ' Glory of Penjerrick,' hybrids of Griffithianum, and ' Duke of 

 Cornwall,' new this year. 



Mr. Harris, of Singleton, Swansea, has raised a very fine dark red 

 arboreum called Harrisi. Everyone must have admired the large white 

 form of Manglesi, exhibited at the Drill Hall by Mr. Mangles on May 17 

 last : a white delicately spotted Griffithianum hybrid of the ordinary 

 Manglesi type, but firm and large, and well grown above its fellows. 



Mr. John Waterer's ' Pink Pearl ' varies very much according as it is 

 grown, and at its best deserves the verdict the public has undoubtedly 

 passed on it as A 1. 



Mr. Mangles's white hybrid Griffitliianum was very similar to 

 varieties called Stand ishi, Gauntlctti, and Manglesi, and a number of 

 unnamed seedlings of the same type which were in bloom at the same 

 time both in the temperate house at Kew and out of doors in the 

 Rhododendron Dell there, and also in my own woods at Penllergaer. My 

 plants, having been raised from probably the same seed as they, were given 

 me by the late Mr. J. H. Mangles. 



The hybrid Rhododendron has now become a florist's flower, and as 

 such wants a definition as to what constitutes a good one. (1) Each corolla, 

 pip, or flower in the truss should be large and of good thickness or 

 substance, so as to endure the longer ; it should open out flat and should 

 have either (a) an effective bright colour or (b) a clear distinct spotting. 

 (2) The truss should be of a good conical shape, with fifteen to twenty 

 flowers, which should hold themselves well, not too crowded or too loose. 



No appreciation of mine of the Himalayan species of Rhododendron 

 and their new hybrids should be understood as detracting one iota from 

 my admiration for that beautiful class usually knowu as the hardy 

 hybrid ; these belong to the months of May and June almost exclusively. 

 W r hat I require is an extension of my blooming period into March and 

 April, and I find my opportunity in the Himalayas. 



The growing popularity of the hardy hybrids is partly due to the 

 effective way in which they are prominently presented to the notice of the 

 many in our public gardens, notably in Hyde Park towards Rotten Row 

 and Hyde Park Corner, and also in the Rhododendron Dell at Kew. 



Kew is a place that, whenever I go there, I feel thoroughly proud of. 

 I meet all sorts and conditions of men there, bent some on pleasure and 

 some on study, but all feel that it is a national property and one to be 

 proud of, for there is nothing to touch it on the continent of Europe. 



