March 20, 1884. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
229 
these in your issue of February 21st. Had he said all strong growth of 
one or two yards in leDgth there certainly would have been little occasion 
for my questioning the value of the practice enforced. In self-defence I 
am bound to remind him that he said nothing about unripened wood except 
as regards the points of shoots in that condition, which he says should be 
removed ; but in using the words “ throughout the strong growths ” (the 
italics are mine) the novice would certainly consider the 10 and 12 feet 
long shoots the strong shoots, not those of 4 or 5 feet long.—Y. B. A. Z. 
the characteristics of R. Aucklandi, I have crossed similar hybrids to 
the one here figured with the pollen of the male parent again, and 
have a fine batch of seedlings two years old; indeed I have used 
the pollen of R. Aucklandi very largely in many experiments, which 
time will test. 
The plant on which the flower here figured grew was 2 feet high 
and six years old.— J. H. Mangles, Valewood, Haslemere. 
A HYBRID FROM RHODODENDRON AUCKLANDI. 
The figure represents a flower and leaf (reduced in size) of a fine 
hybrid Rhododendron as^ above, raised by me. The pollen parent 
Fig. 49.—Hybrid Rhododendron Aucklandli. 
was R. Aucklandi, the seed-bearer one of the common hardy hybrids. 
The floret was 3 inches across, and the truss contained twelve flowers. 
In colour the seedling was intermediate between the two parents, of 
a soft pink, paler in the centre, saucer-like in shape, and with small 
stamens after the manner of R. Aucklandi. The Editor of this Journal 
expressed great admiration of the flower; but it is not quite up to 
the standard of what I expect from some of my very numerous seed¬ 
lings of this strain, which ought, I think, to yield a crimson equivalent 
of the male parent, one of the grandest and most beautiful of all 
Rhododendrons. For the purpose of raising a hardier strain with all 
AMARYLLISES AT CHELSEA. 
The annual exhibition of Amaryllises in Messrs. Yeitch & Sons’ 1 
nursery at Chelsea is now looked for by horticulturists as one of the stand¬ 
ing attractions of the spring season, and large numbers of visitors 
will make a journey there within the next week or two, for 
these plants are most deservedly gaining great favour as their 
qualities are becoming known. For brilliance of colour and 
magnificence of effect they are unexcelled ; and though few 
can hope to have such an extensive display as that at Chelsea, 
yet a dozen or two plants are invaluable at this time of year 
either in the stove or conservatory. In the Veitchian Ama¬ 
ryllis house there are now about 1200 spikes bearing from two 
to four open flowers or buds, and in a few days these will be 
at their best, as this bright warm weather is bringing them 
forward fast. Dazzling shades of scarlet are numerous, while 
the rich crimson tints serve to soften the effect considerably. 
All the plants are plunged in tan to the rim of the pots ; 
but until after the flowering time water is not too liberally 
supplied, as keeping the paths and plunging material moist is 
found sufficient, and preferable to drenching the soil. A tem¬ 
perature as near 60° as possible is maintained night and day, 
and if with sun heat it rises above this the ventilators are 
opened freely, providing the wind is not too keen ; a little shade 
being also requisite. In the matter of soil liberal treatment 
has proved the best. A compost of good turfy loam with plenty 
of sand to keep it open, and one-fourth of old cow manure, 
is employed, the bulbs being potted in January and plunged, 
as mentioned above, no bottom heat being needed. After the 
flowers have faded the growth is encouraged by more liberal 
supplies of water both at the roots and over the foliage, the 
object being to obtain vigorous and well-ripened leaves and 
bulbs to insure satisfactory flowering in the following season. 
The plants are freely exposed to the sun as the growth becomes 
matured, and then rested until the starting time arrives again. 
At no period is liquid manure employed, as this has been 
proved to be less beneficial than a good proportion of stimulant 
in the soil, and the great point is to render the bulbs stout and 
ripe, as upon that in a large measure the quality of the flowers 
depends. Of course, this is influenced greatly by the character 
of the variety, but the best variety neglected in this matter 
will give unsatisfactory results. 
The number of seedlings annually raised at Chelsea have 
added some scores of grand varieties to those already named, 
and in one house there are now five thousand seedlings, the 
results of last season’s crossing. In from three to four years 
they produce flowers, and continue doing so each year until 
they reach considerable age, their capacity for flowering being 
apparently unimpaired. Every season we have the pleasure of 
announcing some novelties of sterling merit from this establish¬ 
ment, and the present season is no exception to the rule. One 
batch is very interesting, comprising the following :—General 
Gordon, Corsair, Canobil, William Goldring, Ceres, and En¬ 
chantress—all good varieties, and, strangely enough, from one 
pod of seed, the produce of a cross between Horace (the seed¬ 
bearing parent) and Auber as the pollen parent. These are of 
excellent quality, and will certainly gain much popularity. 
General Gordon. —This is a bold and handsome variety 
with flowers 7 inches in diameter, the outer petals 3 inches in 
diameter and rounded. The colour is a bright reddish-crimson 
with a white central stripe extending to half the length of the 
petals. The spike is very stout and bears four flowers. This 
variety was certificated at the last meeting of the Royal Horti¬ 
cultural Society. 
Ceres. —Very beautiful, the flower large and well formed, 
the petals broad and rounded ; deep crimson, with a broad 
white central stripe. It is strong with six flowers in a head. 
William Goldring. —Bold and effective, the flowers 7 inches 
in diameter ; dark scarlet, with a central white stripe. Four in a head. 
This flowered last year, but it seems to have improved greatly. 
Enchantress. —Flower handsomely formed, with broad rounded petals 
streaked with rosy crimson on a white ground. Four flowers in a head. 
Canobil is a neatly formed flower of a rosy tinge ; and Corsair, rich 
scarlet, have been seen before; both are good. Of other new varieties 
he following are remarkable for their size and colour. 
Ne Plus Ultra. —A magnificent variety, one of the finest that has yet 
been produced. Brilliant scarlet in colour, the flowers nearly 8 inches in 
diameter, the petals 3i inches broad and of great substance. This was 
certificated at the last Kensington meeting. 
Terence. — One of the large-flowered type, the blooms being over 
7 inches in diameter, of a clear bright scarlet colour. 
