CROSS-FERTILISATION 
43 
time of fertilisation to the ripening of the seeds a period 
of from four to six months elapses. The seeds fall to the 
ground and germinate in about two months (see chapter on 
Propagation). 
It will be seen that to effect a cross between two different 
varieties or species of Rhododendron, it is necessary to 
remove the pollen early from the prospective mother flower, 
and to supply pollen from the male flower when the stigma 
is in a sticky condition, protecting it from mishap by en- 
closing the whole flower in a muslin bag. Under glass this 
precaution may not be necessary. The date of crossing 
and the names of the two parents should be recorded in 
a book, and a number attached to the flower to prevent 
error. Pollination should be effected in the morning of 
a sunny day. 
With regard to the selection of breeder plants, a little 
forethought is advisable. Extremes are to be avoided, partly 
because they are not so likely to cross well, but chiefly be- 
cause their progeny is almost certain to lack quality. The 
best results are obtained when closely allied species are 
hybridised. Thus one of the very finest hybrids raised is 
Loderi, from R. Griffithianum, and R, Fortunei, two closely 
allied species ; another is Fosterianum, from R. Edgeworthii 
and R. Veitchii ; a third being Shilsonii, from R, barhatum 
and R. Thomsonii. Some interesting information on Rhodo- 
dendron hybridisation by the late H. ]. Mangles was pub- 
lished in the Gardeners' Chronicle , Aug. 2, 1879, p. 136. He 
tried to cross a large number of species, but met with many 
failures through ignoring the fact that species that do not 
show in their general character any affinity will not hybridise 
satisfactorily. 
