60 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ January 28, 18fc6. 
they are of minor importance as regards the effects produced 
the mention of their names will suffice. 
Such distinct plants had not been long in the hands of 
the introducers before some attempts were made to effect 
crosses between them, and we believe that the first results 
fell to the share of Mr. Taylor, who succeeded in obtaining 
several intermediate forms, one of the earliest of which 
bears his name. Several others followed, and the greenhouse 
hybrid Rhododendrons quickly took a place amongst estab¬ 
lished favourites. Diversity of colours has been obtained, 
lovely flowers of wax-like substance in dense umbels of ten 
to fourteen ; the plants have been gradually rendered more 
bushy in habit, and all that close attention to their improve¬ 
ment could ensure has been effected. The latest additions 
are chiefly due to Messrs. J. Yeitch & Sons’ foreman, Mr. 
Heale, and for several years past a number of novelties has 
been brought before the public each season. In the past six 
years about thirty hybrids have been certificated, and we 
may expect many more yet, for large numbers of seedlings 
have been raised, the best of which are being continually 
selected. 
Tracing the results of the intercrossing of the species 
named, and again with the hybrids so raised, we find that 
they have proved a prolific source of handsome additions to 
these beautiful plants. R. javanicum and R. jasminiflorum 
were crossed, and produced a number of seedlings, from 
amongst which an especially fine form was selected and 
named Princess Royal, a hybrid that has been of inestimable 
value in after-crossings. By fertilising it with pollen from 
R. Lobbi, and also by making the latter the seed-bearing 
parent, some of the best hybrids of the group have been 
obtained, such, for instance, as Princess of Wales, Duchess 
of Teck, Duchess of Edinburgh, Prince Leopold, and Duchess 
of Connaught, all charming hybrids. Princess Royal has 
also been crossed with R. Brookeanum, and from this union 
was obtained Princess Alexandra. R. Lobbi has been 
similarly crossed with R. jasminiflorum and produced 
Princess Helena, which in its turn was crossed with R. 
Brookeanum gracile, and yielded Crown Princess of Prussia 
and Princess Thyra. 
These may be described as the preliminary stages in the 
improvement of greenhouse Rhododendrons, for since the 
appearance of the most recent of those previously named— 
i.e., Duchess of Connaught, which wa3 certificated in 1881— 
numerous additions have been made to their numbers. 
Referring only to those that have been similarly honoured to 
that first mentioned, we have no less than twenty-eight, 
comprising the following, all of which have been exhibited 
by Messrs. J. Yeitch & Sons. In 1882 eleven were certifi¬ 
cated, and amongst them were the trio of double forms, 
balsamiflorum, balsamiflorum album, and balsamiflorum 
aureum, which are salmon red, white, and golden respec¬ 
tively. These were the first distinctly double Rhododen¬ 
drons of this group, and the flowers are so beautifully formed 
that would prove invaluable for buttonholes or bouquets. 
The other single varieties of the same year were Aurora, 
orange; Excelsior, large buff, with red stamens (from 
Princess Royal x javanicum); Favourite, a soft pink; 
Monarch, bright orange (from Princess Alexandra x Duchess 
of Edinburgh); Sir Beauchamp Seymour, pale buff, stamens 
rose-coloured; Sir Garnet Wolseley, reddish salmon, very 
large; Star of India, buff; and Queen Victoria, bright 
yellow, very pretty and of good habit. 
The years 1888 and 1881 brought out six and four hybrids 
each, as follows:—In the first-named year Baroness Schroder, 
dark yellow and red stamens; Brilliant, rich scarlet, very 
large ; Diadem, orange scarlet; Princess Christian, pale pink, 
charming ; Scarlet Crown, orange scarlet; and Triumphans, 
brilliant scarlet. In 1884 Conqueror, large flowers, dark 
scarlet; Empress, salmon rose ; President, yellowish buff, 
pink margin; and Princess Beatrice, pale creamy buff tinged 
with rose. Last year no less than nine seedlings were 
certificated, and all well deserved the honour. They were— 
Apollo, scarlet, the flowers in very large heads of ten to 
fourteen; Cardinale, rich scarlet; Curtisi, crimson; incar- 
natum floribundum, buff and rose; Indian Yellow, clear 
yellow; Militaire, scarlet ; Minerva, soft yellow with red 
stamens ; Pearl, white and rose tinted (from Princess Royal 
and Aucklandi); and Teysmanni, bright yellow, the flowers 
very neat in form. It will be seen from those noted that a 
considerable range of colours is now secured, but no doubt 
other tints will be added from time to time, and if a few 
other species could be found of different colours some valu¬ 
able additions might soon be expected. 
These notes have extended to such a length that a few 
remarks on culture must be reserved for another contribu¬ 
tion.—L. C. 
AMONG THE VEGETABLE NOVELTIES. 
In continuation of my notes which appeared some months 
ago, 1 have a few words to say about the Brassicas, which I was 
not then in a position to express. I have been very glad to see 
notes about vegetables appearing every now and then in our 
Journal, for they are highly appreciated by me, who am only a 
vegetable and fruit grower. Flowers truly I love,but I have 
come to the conclusion that in their cultivation I shall never be 
very celebrated 
Chou de Burgh le v is no longer quite a novelty, but the strain 
is improved. Mr. Gilbert kindly sent me some plants from which 
I am now cutting heads singularly free from the rather strong 
flavour of the earlier stock. I find them very delicate and 
Marrow-like. 
Chou de Gilbert is another little stranger from Burghlev, and 
if Mr. Gilbert goes on like this he will be the father of a 
numerous family of Chous. This is an improved Brussels 
Sprout, being free from the strong flavour of the latter. The 
strain being hardly settled yet, I have not had a very good 
opportunity to judge, but if from the few 1 have 1 can form a 
just estimate, 1 should say that this novelty will be a great 
acquisition. Burghley Pet Cabbage takes after its worthy parent 
the Chou in flavour, but is more dwarf, hearts in quicker, and 
is a Cabbage without the Broccoli shoots inside. 
Brussels Sprouts I tried in three varieties— Daniel’s Colossal, 
Webb’s Matchless, and Aigburth, and 1 must give the palm to 
the last for everything. To those, however, that prefer the 
small buttons I cannot recommend it, for the sprouts are large 
and solid. 
Celery —I tried Northumberland White (which I obtained 
from Stua t & Mein), Manchester Red, and White Plume. 
The first, which is a large kind, is excellent in every way. I 
have had very fine sticks as brittle as glass, and I find it of very 
good flavour and hardy. Manchester Red is good, but nothing 
out of the common. White Plume will do for soup in autumn 
and until snow and sharp frost come, and then where is it ? I 
have several rows, but there is very little trace of them left, 
although they were partly earthed up. 
Lyon Leeks are fine and of good quality. It is a vegetable I 
like, and is extremely beneficial to many persons. 
To those now giving in their orders for seeds I would say, Do 
not omit Duke of Albany Pea and Victor Potato. Both are 
sterling novelties with which every grower will be pleased both 
for quality and quantity.—H. S. Easty. 
WINNING ROSES. 
In his interesting article in the “ Rosarian’s Year Book ” on 
“ Winning Roses,” Mr. T. B. Hall carries on the pleasant series of 
Rose selections based upon actual practice at the exhibitions of the 
last two seasons ; and though the varieties enumerated do not stand 
quite in order of merit, owing to their being arranged only according 
to the number of blooms shown, independently of the number of 
plants from which these were obtained, still the averages can easily 
be struck for comparison with the former lists of Mr. Whitwell and 
Mr. Mawley. Of course, as Mr. Whitwell pointed out in his article 
in 1884, to take absolute averages would be most misleading ; for 
instance, one result of such a proceeding in the present case would be 
to place Mabel Morrison in the first twelve, a position it certainly 
cannot claim to occupy, in the south at any rate, although in wet 
weather it occasionally travels safely to a show. But by taking into 
consideration the proportion of the number of blooms shown to the 
number of plants grown, in the case first of those Roses exhibited 
not less than thirty times, then of those shown not less than twenty, 
fourteen, ten, and seven times respectively, it will be seen that 
Duchesse de Vallombrosa heads the poll by a large majority, with 
