222 
THE ELOEIST AND POMOLOGIST^ 
anum, Delicatissimum (particularly Veitch’s), Everestianum, Fastuosum, Gem, 
Genseric, Iago, Lady Eleanor Cathcart, Lady Godiva, Ingramii, Mooreanum, 
Mrs. Loudon, Nelsoni, Nero, Paxtoni, Perspicuum, Schiller, Victoria, Zuleika, 
kc. 
Late Group. —Butlerianum, Candidissimura, Celebrandum, Chianoides, 
Colonel, Comtesse de Morelia, Concessum, La Vivandiere, Maculatum, Nigrum 
superbum, Marguerite, Minnie, Macranthum, Mr. Jolfh. Waterer, Mrs. John 
Waterer, Mrs. Standish, Standish’s Perfection, Star of England, Leopardi, kc. 
The above may be recommended as a selection for a beginner. It contains 
few or none of the fine new high-priced varieties. Of course, one fairly in¬ 
spired with the love of Rhododendrons will not content himself with these; 
and he will speedily discover that the second and third groups may be greatly 
increased. The white or light-coloured varieties in the late group are so ex¬ 
quisitely fine, that it is difficult to speak of them with moderation. They will 
match the finest Camellias any day. We may add, that in the second week 
of last July, we saw some fine trusses of Maculatum nigrum superbum, in a 
cool shaded situation, and that circumstance, supposing that Nobleanum 
flowered about the 1st of April, as it no doubt did in many parts of the country, 
marks off a period of three months and a half for the Rhododendron season 
of 1866. 
Our observations this year have convinced us of the great superiority of 
soil largely composed of peat earth' for the growth of Rhododendrons. It is 
usual for nurserymen to affirm that this shrub will grow well enough in any 
light soil of a loose or sandy texture. Most of their nurseries are of this de¬ 
scription ; and it is natural for them to maintain that what is sufficient for pro¬ 
pagation is good for growth. It is true that Rhododendrons will grow, in a 
way, in any light soil containing abundance of vegetable matter as one of its 
elements. There is, however, all the difference in the world between plants 
that barely live after a stunted precarious fashion, and plants that grow like 
Willows, and are covered annually with immense showers of blossom. Ama¬ 
teurs who can procure peat earth are strongly recommended to avail them¬ 
selves of it. If they reside near a railway, they will probably have little 
difficulty in obtaining—say five or six truckloads of it, which may be equal to 
twenty or twenty-five cartloads. Let them chop it small, or break it well 
with a coarse rake, but not screen it. Let them add an equal quantity of ■well- 
rotted leaf mould, free from sticks, with a sufficiency of sharp sand. That will 
give from sixty to seventy cartloads of compost to begin with. If the original 
soil of the garden is clayey or chalky it should be excavated to the depth of 
12, 15, or 18 inches, as the grower can afford it, and a layer of the compost 
put in its place. It is often injurious to mix up any of the old soil. After 
the Rhododendrons have been planted they will be benefited by a strong 
mulching from a decayed hotbed; and the process may be repeated with good 
effects for several years.—( Gardeners' Chronicle .) 
ON CAULIFLOWERS. 
I am quite of the same opinion as Mr. Tillery, that there is no better 
Cauliflower, for summer and autumn use, than the Walcheren, if true. I am 
also of opinion that it is very difficult to obtain true from the seedsmen. The 
late Mr. Foster, of Benningborough (the raiser of Lady Downe’s and Foster’s 
White Seedling Grapes), had the best strain of the Walcheren that I have seen. 
I believe he got it many years ago from Mr. Legge. He always took the 
greatest pains to keep it true. My neighbour, Mr. Cooper, Lady Cooke’s 
