not, are to be regarded as plants of great beauty and excellence ; 
those which have been sufficiently hardy to stand our winters 
also endure a considerable amount of soot and smoke. Thus, 
while the Portugal and common Laurels are in a moribund 
state at Kensington, the Rhododendrons seem in good health; 
and few persons have seen a well-arranged American garden, 
in which they always occupy a prominent position, without 
being struck with the beauty of their foliage, and the rich and 
varied colours of their flowers. One of the most interesting 
sights that we ever recollect seeing was at Saltwood, near 
Hythe, in Kent, in the grounds of Archdeacon Croft; in a small 
valley at the end of his shrubbery, in the centre of which was 
a piece of water, were planted a large number of what are 
ordinarily termed American plants. Rhododendrons, Kalmias, 
Azaleas, etc., completely filled the space; a thick fog had, how¬ 
ever, obscured the whole valley, but when, as the warm June 
sun dispersed it, the whole gradually burst upon our view, a 
more beautiful sight could not possibly be imagined. 
Some of the Indian varieties, too tender, although coming 
from the hills, for our gardens, have proved very valuable as 
the parents of other varieties. Thus, two very beautiful Rho¬ 
dodendrons have been exhibited during last season, and the 
present one, Princess Alice , raised from P. Edgworthii , exhibited 
by Messrs. Veitch, and Countess of Haddington, a seedling from 
Halhousice , by Mr. Parker, of Tooting; the present variety is 
another example of what skilful hybridizing can effect. 
Prince of Wales retains the bright orange colour of javanicum, 
with the more lengthened tube of retusum ; the foliage is of a 
clear glaucous-green colour, and the whole plant well deserving 
of general cultivation by all who have greenhouses at their 
command. In a communication which we have received from 
Messrs. Rollison, they say, 44 we introduced from Java with Rho¬ 
dodendron javanicum and retusum , two other species, viz. R. 
Rlumei (var. album of Blume) and R. tubiflorum , not so beautiful 
and showy as javanicum or retusum , but a very pretty and distinct 
species, suitable for the greenhouse or conservatory. R. Rlumei 
produces umbels of creamy-white drooping flowers (well shaped), 
and R. tubiflorum similar flowers to R. retusum , but of a reddish- 
purple colour, and rather longer in the tube than R. retusum .” 
