1881 . ] 
RHODODENDRON JAMES MARSHALL BROOKS. 
81 
RHODODENDRON JAMES MARSHALL BROOKS. 
[Plate 539.] 
« HE variety of Rhododendron figured in 
the accompanying plate ia one amongst 
many fine-leaved magnificent-flowered 
sorts which have been originated at the Knap 
Hill Nursery. We are indebted to Mr. Anthony 
Waterer for the truss figured by Mr. Fitch, and 
which bears its own recommendation. We have 
on previous occasions described it as a grand 
flower, of a rich and lively crimson, having a 
large pallid blotch, covered with bronzy or 
yellowish-green spots, on the upper segment; this 
peculiar marking renders the clusters pecu¬ 
liarly telling and effective, and gives a distinct¬ 
ness of character which is most desirable. 
When to these splendidly-coloured flowers, pro¬ 
duced in magnificent trusses, we add the bold 
and ample foliage which characterises the Knap 
Hill race of hardy Rhododendron, we have an 
ornamental evergreen flowering shrub which 
may challenge precedence with any other in 
existence. 
We have frequently taken occasion to ex¬ 
plain that many of the fine-flowered Rhodo¬ 
dendrons we sometimes see and always admire, 
are on account of their parentage, too tender 
to bear our severer winters uninjured, since the 
very severe frosts, if they do not altogether de¬ 
stroy the trees, inflict real damage on the 
young flowers in the bud so that the truss 
of bloom is either totally wrecked, or opens in 
a patchy and imperfect manner. In other 
cases, also the result of parentage, handsome 
flowers are associated with mean and shabby 
foliage, which in some cases has the awkward 
habit of falling away early, leaving the plants 
bare and scraggy, when they should be well 
clothed with leaves in every part. 
Now, the Rhododendron being an orna¬ 
mental evergreen as well as an onamental 
flowering shrub, it is a matter of supreme im¬ 
portance that only those sorts should be planted 
which, on account of their bold and durable 
foliage, will be really ornamental during the 
long period in which the flowers are absent, 
and which, at the same time, have flowers of 
good quality, and a constitution derived from 
hardy parents enabling them to withstand the 
vicissitudes of our climate. There are, of 
course, sheltered spots, in the South and West 
of England, for example, where the better of 
No. 42. imperial series. 
the comparatively tender sorts alluded to may 
be successfully flowered in all but the winters 
of exceptional severity, and where, in conse¬ 
quence of the more genial climatal conditions, 
the foliage puts on a better aspect. The fact 
still remains that over the length and breadth 
of the land, where these favourable conditions 
do not exist, there are certain kinds which 
manifest all the faults above referred to, and 
which, in the severer of ordinary winters, have 
their flowers more or less destroyed; and there 
are other sorts which are to be regarded as 
good evergreens at all seasons, and which rarely, 
if ever, sustain any injury to their blossom- 
buds during the severest of winters. 
The winters of 1879-80 and 1880-1 have 
been most trying for Rhododendrons, as well 
as for all outdoor shrubs. We have, therefore, 
as we have fallen in with them, noted such of 
the finer sorts as had stood these severe trials 
unharmed, and, in consequence, those men¬ 
tioned below can be recommended as thoroughly 
reliable on the score of hardiness, while for 
beauty of foliage and flowers they cannot be 
excelled :— 
Agamemnon. —A fine claret-red, with a white 
centre. 
Album grandiflorum. —An old but pleasing blush- 
white variety. 
Alexander Dancer. —A grand sort, having fine, 
bold flower-trusses and good foliage, the flowers 
bright rose, with a magenta flush, and bearing a 
small white blotch, dotted with black. 
Archimedes.—A handsome light rose, with paler 
centre. 
Barclayanum. —A fine old sort, raised some forty 
years ago, and bearing fine trusses of deep, rosy- 
crimson flowers. 
Caractacus. —A strikingly handsome sort, the 
flowers deep purplish magenta, with blotch of 
black dots. 
Charles Fisher. — A rich crimson-rose, well 
spotted, and a fine trusser, every way first-class. 
Delicatum. —One of the best of the whites, having 
good foliage, and large white flowers, marked on the 
upper segment with a large trifid blotch of greenish 
spots. 
Everestianum. — One of the older varieties, but 
still indispensable in all good collections ; its warm 
lilac tint, its conspicuous greenish spotting, and its 
prettily frilled margin, all combine to attract atten¬ 
tion to its pleasing character, besides which, it is of 
excellent habit, has fine, healthy foliage, and is a 
most constant and abundant bloomer. 
Fastuosum flore-pleno. — A good grower, of 
Continental origin, a double-flowered mauve-lilac, 
the best of the double sorts, and one which may bo 
planted with confidence. 
Helen Waterer. — A very attractive and 
thoroughly good variety, remarkable for its bold 
foliation, and its fine trusses of white-centred flowers, 
having a deep scarlet-crimson edge; a decided 
a 
