246 
THE FLORIST. 
OBSERVATIONS ON HYBRIDISING AND HYBRID 
RHODODENDRONS. 
I n the August number of last year’s Florist we inserted an article on 
Rhododendrons, under the heading “ Why are not American Plants 
more generally grown?” our correspondent then promising to give us 
(me account of garden varieties, as his observations were directed to 
he common kinds for under cover and mass planting. Press of other 
matter having prevented our correspondent from giving us the results 
of a large practical experience with American plants—which will, how¬ 
ever, soon be forthcoming—we have great pleasure in laying before our 
readers the following observations on hybridising and hybrid Rhodo¬ 
dendrons, by Mr. John Standish, of Bagshot, one of the most successful 
hybridists in this class of popular plants we have, as his fine collection 
of seedlings amply verifies. The article is especially valuable, as showing 
the origin of the many beautiful seedlings which are yearly added to 
our list of garden varieties ; and the hints Mr. Standish furnishes on 
the effects of certain 1 crosses will be valuable to those of our readers 
a 
interested in this branch of horticultural science. 
Rhododendrons—Species from which most of our Hybrids have 
DESCENDED. 
Arboreum, a. album, ponticum, p. purpureum, p. album, caucasicum, cam- 
panulatum, catawbiense, maximum. 
Rhododendron catawbiense, by arboreum, produced altaclerense; catawbiense by 
altaclerense produced Blandyanum; Blandyanum by Queen Victoria pro¬ 
duced Blandyanum superbum, Manglesii, Robert Burns, Menziesii, 
Countess de Morelia, General Cabrera, &c. 
Rhododendron maximum, by arboreum, produced Lindseyii; ditto by ponticum 
album brought numerous delicate blush and nearly white hybrids ; such 
hybrids, crossed by altaclarense, produced Paxtonii, Mrs Beecher Stowe, 
The Gem, Gulnare, Zuleika; Paxtonii, crossed by Lindseyii, produced 
Climax and fimbriatum. 
Rhododendron ponticum purpureum, by altaclerense, produced Queen Victoria; 
Queen Victoria, by altaclerense, produced Vesuvius; Vesuvius, crossed by 
Blandyanum, produced Brebnerii, Madame Titiens, &c. 
Rhododendron ponticum album, by campanulatum, produced delicatum; deli - 
catum, by multimaculatum, produced Fairy Queen, Little Sue, &c. 
Rhododendron ponticum album, by caucasicum, produced Cunningham’s White; 
Cunningham’s White, by Blandyanum, produced limbatum, the finest of all 
edged varieties. 
Rhododendron catawbiense hybridum, such as album elegans, crossed by pictum, 
produced Standish’s Perfection, Minnie, Mrs. Standish, &c. 
Rhododendrons Crosses from Catawbiense. 
Blandyanum, rosy crimson, free bloomer 
„ superbum, bright cerise, very free bloomer 
Menziesii, rosy pink, yellow blotch in the back petal, large 
Manglesii, beautiful rosy lake, large flower, and truss fine 
Schiller, bluish purple, jet black spots in a blotch 
Iago, rosy crimson, much spotted in a very large black blotch, very large flower 
Countess de Morelia, clear rose, pale centre, very large flower, compact truss, 
a most beautiful flower 
General Cabrera, blotch of dark spots, large flower 
Magnolifolium superbum, violet purple, fine large compact truss, fine foliage 
