HORTICULTURAL JOURNAL. 83 
The whole tribe of horse-chestnuts are well worthy the close attention of 
lovers of ornamental trees. The skillful hybridizer has an opportunity of 
producing some new forms which would certainly be pleasing ; and even the 
mere raiser of chance seedlings, might be remunerated by a good sport, so 
liable are all of the family to vary from seed. 
We have already many fine varieties of Horse-Chestnut, and some few 
variations amongst the Buckeyes. The ^seulus ruhicunda, with brick-red 
flowers, whether a sport or true species, is particularly beautiful. We have 
also a scarlet variety of this species, as well as one with variegated leaves. 
Of the common Horse-Chestnut, there is the variety with double flowers, 
the cut-leaved, and the variegated, and probably some others. 
Recently the French nurserymen have introduced pyramidal dwarf horse- 
chestnuts, which must not be confounded with Pavia macrostachya, and 
varieties to which that name is popularly applied with us. They are varie- 
ties of ^. Hippocastanum, grafted on slow-growing kinds, and are said to 
form peculiarly pleasing objects. Thomas Meehan. 
GRAFTED PLANTS. 
A dispute has been carried on in the columns of the Gardeners' Chronicle, 
as to the duration of Rhododendrons when grafted. The learned editor of 
that journal in the issue of February 3d, thus sums up the case and gives 
his opinion. 
" Whether or not Rhododendrons, when grafted, are likely to be long-lived 
and healthy, is one of those questions which have to be determined upon 
general principles, as well as upon facts, or what are called by that name, 
" A detached portion of a plant is not merely capable of producing the 
organs necessary to the formation of a perfect plant, but it has also the 
property of being able to blend with another plant, and lead a common life 
with it. On this capability depend the numerous garden operations which 
are known under the not very apt name of ennobling {yeredeln, grafting). 
The contact of young succulent parts, which are in the course of develop- 
ment, is a necessary condition of this blending. Such a condition is very 
easily brought about in dicotyledonous plants, because in them there exists 
between the bark and wood that layer of young tissue in course of develop- 
ment called cambium ; and there is little difficulty in so bringing together 
two plants, that this layer in each shall meet at some one point. But in the 
