July 27, 1882. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
83 
parentage such massive flowers ana distinct colours could have 
been produced ? The answer must be ot a nature that could 
scarcely be anticipated, for all these varieties, each so double and 
so distinct in colour, were not only obtained from one pod of seed, 
hut the flower that produced the seed was fertilised with its own 
pollen. Whence, then, have come the colours ? This opens an 
interesting question—namely, the transmission of properties by 
some mysterious process that now and then asserts its existence 
in a striking and unexpected manner. For example, the colour 
of the flower of the yellow variety above referred to (R. balsamm- 
florum aureum) can only be accounted for by the employment of 
a Bornean species, R. Brookeanum gracile, in hybridising some 
twenty years ago. The potency of that cross has been seen re¬ 
peatedly in the buffs, orange reds, bronzy yellows, and other tints 
that have been produced in several single forms ; but now for the 
first time it is reproduced in its integrity after a lapse of years, 
and in a double flower, the parent of which was an unnamed 
pink seedling, fertilised, as above observed, with its own pollen ! 
Surely this is a strange result, and as Mr. Taylor, the originator 
of this race of Rhododendrons, remarks, “ there is muclTto_be 
learned and much to be done yet in hybridising.” 
it was a little peculiarity in the flower that has been so singu- 
Fig. 17.—ItHODOIiEXDBON BALSAMJEFLOIIUM ALBUM. 
larly productive that caused it to be selected for self-fertilisation, 
and thus a circumstance which the majority would probably have 
passed as trivial has, by being promptly and intelligently turned 
to account, produced what may be termed a new race of flowers, 
of which the specimen figured, R. balsamseflorum album, is a fair 
typical example. The individual flowers range from 2 to 3 inches 
in diameter, and closely resemble well-formed Gardenias, while 
the trusses are very large and appear to be freely produced. 
Well-grown plants of these double Rhododendrons must be very 
imposing, and will some day be seen contributing with great 
effect to the embellishment of conservatories. 
To Mr. Heale, one of Messrs. Veitch’s competent foremen, the 
credit is due of raising the double forms in question, and also the 
fine single varieties that have been lately certificated. 
Unmanured Roses. —If those who did not agree with what I 
wrote advocating a more sparing use of manure for Roses were to 
see those here unmanured for years, and could just now compare 
them with others under precisely similar circumstances only very 
liberally manured, they would be compelled to own that for such a 
climate as has to be endured here heavy manuring is a real and a 
very apparent mistake. It is true the season has been very favour¬ 
able for a vigorous growth, and spring found the plants well fur¬ 
nished with sound wood and plenty of prominent and unstarted buds. 
