HYBRID INTERMIXTURES. 
359 
genus Cereus. Grandiflorus is also said to have been 
crossed with speciosissimus at Colvill’s, and Ackermannius 
has bred with both phyllanthocides and speciosissimus at 
Spofforth, and I have been told that some of them have been 
also crossed with the very dissimilar truncatus. There is, 
therefore, every reason to suppose that the whole genus 
Cereus will intermingle, and the fertility of the existing 
crosses seems to open an unlimited field to the expectations 
of the cultivator. I entertain such doubt of the truth of the 
separation of Echinocactus that I would urge cultivators to 
try whether it will cross with Cereus. In no genus, how- 
ever, are more valuable results to be obtained than in that 
magnificent ornament of our shrubberies, the Rhododendron, 
including the subordinate family of Azaleas, which together 
with Rhodora form part of the same genus. I had enter- 
tained an idea that the dwarf Alpine species would be found 
distinct from the rest of the genus, but I am satisfied the 
suspicion was unfounded, and I believe all the species to be 
capable of intermixing, though I have failed as yet in blend- 
ing Az. Indica with any but its own immediate kindred. 
There is a strong plant at Spofforth from Rhodora Cana- 
densis by Azalea Pontica (of which cross a great number 
were raised, but being very delicate when young most of 
them perished, as well as another cross from Rhodora by 
Rhododendron Ponticum), and small plants were raised from 
Rhodora by Azalea triumphans and Rhod. Ponticum. That 
by Az. Pontica will flower next spring for the first time. 
Four evergreen seedlings obtained from the seed of Rhod. 
Ponticum, which I had fertilized at Spofforth with pollen of 
Az. Pontica, have flowered at Highclere. Two produced 
yellow fragant flowers nearly of the colour of Az. Pontica, 
one had flowers of a paler yellow or lemon colour, and the 
fourth of an intermediate chesnut. I have raised many 
weak plants from the seed of Rhododendron by yellow and 
orange Azaleas, but I have found extreme difficulty in rear- 
ing them, and have lost them at an early age. I had the 
same bad success in trying to rear to maturity a pot full of 
mules between the white Australian Nicotian a suaveolens 
and the red Virginian Tabacum. The American Azaleas 
have intermixed with the Nepal Rhododendron arboreum at 
Spofforth, and under the care of Mr. Smith of Norbiton, at 
that time the gardener of the Earl of Liverpool, who also 
succeeded in obtaining seedlings from Rhododendron Dauri- 
