458 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
March 20, 1886. 
beautiful white, Queen of the Belgians. A new white, 
expected to be the best yet in commerce, Mrs. H. 
Cannell, one of the veteran Windsor’s seedlings, will be 
open in a day or two. This selection is but a few out 
of the many kinds in bloom. All are of the very best, 
and can be recommended with the utmost confidence. 
( To be continued.) 
-->*<-*—- 
THE RHODODENDRON. 
In returning to this subject (see p. 421), I may as well, 
before giving a list of approved varieties, refer shortly 
to the native habitat of the Rhododendron, and also 
mention the usual mode by which it is propagated. 
Certain species of Rhododendron are to be found in all 
the four quarters of the globe. Rhododendron ponticum 
is a native of Asia Minor, and is also said to have been 
introduced from Gibraltar; R. maximum, R. punctatum, 
and R. catawbiense, are natives of North America ; R. 
arboreum comes from Nepal, and from the same hill 
country many other choice kinds have been introduced, 
which are known as Sikkim, and Himalayan species. 
Again we have Rhododendron dauricum from Siberia, 
and R. ferruginqum, R. hirsutum, and others are 
European species. The popular Rhododendron: off 
which I wrote at p. 421, has chiefly sprung from R. 
ponticum, and the American kinds above mentioned, 
touched up with R. arboreum to give colour. According 
to Loudon, it is just 150 years ago since Rhododendron 
maximum was introduced into this country from 
America, and from the same authority we learn that 
it is but a little more than 120 years ago since the 
introduction of R, ponticum ; and that R. catawbiense 
was not introduced until the year 1809. From these 
facts, and considering what the originals are, it will be 
seen that the cultivator and hybridist has not been 
slow in perfecting a class of plants, if one may use the 
term, leaving but little to be desired. 
The propagation of the Rhododendron is very simple, 
we may say that it is limited to three operations, viz., 
seed sowing, grafting, and layering. The Rhododendron 
is propagated from seed to perpetuate the species and 
to obtain new varieties from the seed of carefully and 
skilfully fertilised flowers. The seed is best sown in 
January and February in pans well drained and filled 
with peaty soil very fine on the surface, and pressed 
down smooth previous to sowing the seed, which should 
not be covered with soil. The pans must be kept in the 
propagating house and carefully shaded ; in about three 
months from the time of sowing the young plants will 
be strong enough for pricking out into pots or pans. 
None of the Rhododendrons are grown from seed in 
such numbers as is R. ponticum ; it has a reputation 
as a cover plant, and is extensively used for that 
purpose, being game proof; it is also the kind on 
which existing varieties are grafted by tens of thousands 
yearly. Grafting is by far the most important system 
of propagation adopted for the Rhododendron, and the 
operation is usually carried out during the first three 
months of the year ; they may also be grafted in the 
autumn with advantage. Layering has some ad¬ 
vantages over the grafting system, as it is done out of 
of doors, whereas the grafted plants require the pro¬ 
tection of a house or pit. Plants from layers have no 
objectionable suckers springing from the root, as 
happens sometimes from grafted plants, still, layering 
is not practicable in the case of seedlings and new 
varieties, as it absorbs the whole plant. Rhodo¬ 
dendrons are best layered in the months of September 
and October. 
The following is a list of select varieties. Some of 
them are new, but the majority consists of the most 
approved varieties for general cultivation :— 
Alexander Dancer. —Bright rose, lighter centre, fine. 
Austin Layard. —Rosy crimson with dark spots, 
handsome truss. 
Baron Schroder. —Plum colour, yellow centre, most 
distinct. 
Barclayanum.— Deep rosy crimson, a fine late bloom¬ 
ing kind. 
Bluebell.— Blush, light purplish margin, distinct, 
good habit. 
Bruce Findlay .—Rose and large dark spot. 
Busybody. —White, green centre, distinct. 
Carcictacus. —Rich purplish crimson, splendid truss, 
fine foliage and habit. 
Chas. Bagley. —Cherry red, fine truss. 
Charles Dickens. —Dark scarlet, fine habit and foliage. 
Claude. —Clear white bordered with bright lake. 
Countess of Normanton. —Pale, almost white, dark 
markings, fine truss. 
Concessum .—Clear pink, lighter centre, beautiful. 
Crown Prince .—Bright rose, yellow spot. 
Delicatum .—Blush changing to white, with a distinct 
brown spot. 
Duchess of Bedford. —Crimson, light centre, grand 
truss. 
Duchess of Connaught .—White with lemon-coloured 
marking. 
Duke of Tech .—Bright magenta, shaded rosy lilac, 
white blotch. 
Everestianum .—Rosy lilac, spotted and fringed, an 
excellent free-blooming sort. 
Fair Helen .—Pure white, finely marked, with a rich 
yellow spot. 
F. D. Godman. —Crimson, fine blotch, good foliage 
and habit. 
Frederick Waterer .—Intense fiery crimson, fine truss. 
Fastuosum fore pleno. —Mauve, immense trusses of 
double flowers. 
George Paul. —Crimson, finely spotted, showy and 
free blooming. 
Helen Waterer .—Pure white ground, margin bright 
crimson, very attractive. 
H. W. Sargent. —Crimson, enormous truss, a mag¬ 
nificent variety. 
Jack Waterer .—Light centre, with band of clear 
scarlet. 
James Macintosh .—Rosy scarlet, splendid habit. 
James Nasmyth .—Rosy lilac, intensely blotched 
maroon, fine. - . . . 
Jas. Marshall Brooks .—Rich scarlet, bronze spot, 
very distinct’. 
John Walter .—Rich crimson, fine form and habit. 
John Waterer .—Dark crimson, a fine free-blooming 
kind. 
Kate Waterer .—Clear rosy crimson, with large yel¬ 
low mark ; one of the most distinct. 
Lady Armstrong. —Pale rose, much spotted, beau¬ 
tiful. 
Lady Eleanor Cathcart. — Clear rose with chocolate 
spot, much admired. 
Lady Winifred Herbert .—Rosy crimson, lighter 
centre, finely marked with chocolate spots on the upper 
petal. 
Lady Rolle. —White, changing to blush, upper petal 
brownish yellow. 
Lady Clermont .—Rosy scarlet, intensely blotched, 
fine shape 
Lady Grey Egerton .—Silvery blush, splendid truss 
and foliage. 
Madame Carvalho. —Blush, changing to pure white. 
Maichioness of Lansdowne.— Pale rose, with intenso 
black spot ; one of the most distinct and telling 
varieties. 
Martin H. Sutton. — Scarlet, richly marked ; one of 
the most distinct and finest of its colour. 
Meteor .—Fiery crimson ; fine. 
Marie Stuart .-—Blush maroon spot. 
Michael Waterer —Bright scarlet crimson, much 
admired. 
Minnie. —Blush white, spotted with chocolate, a 
distinct and useful variety. 
Mrs. Frank Phillips. — Deep rose, light centre, 
distinct. 
Mrs. Layard. —White centre, with a fine margin of 
bright crimson. 
Mrs. John Waterer .—Bright rose, spotted. 
Mrs. Shuttlcworth. —Scarlet, lighter centre, much 
spotted, beautiful. 
Mrs. S. Simpson. —White, finely spotted, large 
truss. 
Mrs. Tom Agnew. —White, lemon blotch, very beau¬ 
tiful. 
Mrs. John Glutton. —White, most beautiful, very 
hardy. 
Mrs. Mendel. —Pink, each petal rayed white, yellow 
centre. 
Mrs. William Bovill. — Rich rosy scarlet, very 
attractive. 
Mrs. William Agnew.—Yale rose, yellow centre. 
Picturatum. —Cream colour, with a chocolate blotch, 
distinct. 
Princess Christian. —White, large blotch of orange 
and black spots. 
Princess Mary of Cambridge .—White centre, rosy 
purple edge, fine. 
Princess of Wales —Magenta edge, pure white centre, 
brownish spots. 
Prince of Wales .—Bright rose, shaded with purple 
Purity. —White, with a faint yellow eye, very showy. 
Purpureum grandiflorum .—Very fine purple. 
Pailph Sanders .—Rich purplish crimson, finely marked. 
Sappho. —White, distinctly blotched with maroon, 
the best of its class. 
Sefton .—Dark maroon, fine truss. 
Salvini .—Purplish rose, shaded, well marked with 
chocolate spots on upper petal. 
Sigismund Pucker. —Magenta, richly spotted, dis¬ 
tinct and beautiful. 
Silvio .—-Rich purple, yellow centre, very distinct. 
Sir Bichard Wallace .—Fine clear rose, yellowish 
centre. 
Sir William Armstrong .—Bright crimson, fine truss. 
Sir Thomas Sebright .—Rich purple, with distinct 
bronze blotch. 
Snowflake. —Pure white, fine conical truss, beautifuL 
Stella .—Pale rose, intense chocolate blotch, verv 
free bloomer. 
St. Blaise .—Purplish crimson, intensely spotted, 
very effective. 
Sylph .—Bright rose-pink, fine truss, very beautiful. 
The Queen. —Blush, changing to white, fine shape. 
The Warrior .—Rosy scarlet, very late. 
Vandyck .—Rosy crimson, very fine. 
William Austin .—Bright crimson, fine truss, free 
flowering. 
William Ewart Gladstone. —Pink, fine truss. 
Eaelv Flowering Varieties. 
The following Rhododendrons being rather earlv and 
free flowering, are recommended for potting. 
Auguste van Gecrt .—Rosy purple. 
Blandyanum. —Rosy crimson. 
Bouquet de Flore. —Blush, spotted. 
Brayanum.— Rosy scarlet, lighter centre. 
Broughtoni .—Rosy crimson. 
Cardinalis .—Rosy purple. 
Caucasieum pictum. —Blush spotted. 
Cleopatra. —Blush. 
Cynthia .—Rosy crimson. 
Everstianum. —Rosy lilac. 
Fair Bosamond. —Pink. 
Fastuosum fl. pi. —Mauve, double. 
Grand Arab. —Crimson. 
Kate Wdterer. —Rose, -yellow centre. - - 
Limbatum. —White, scarlet edge. 
Michael Waterer .—Crimson spotted. 
Miss Owen. —Blusli-red spots like Apple blossoms. 
Mrs. John Walter .—Light centre, edged pink. 
Purity. —White, faint yellow eye. 
Prince Camille de Bohan. —Blush, dark eye. 
Salmonea rosea .—Flesh colour, spotted. 
Victoria-. —Claret colour. 
Vcrschaffclti. —Blush, much spotted. 
Late-flowering Varieties. 
The undermentioned are a few of the latest to flower, 
and which remain in flower a long time ; they will be 
found useful when a late display is desired. 
Barclayanum .—Rosy crimson. 
Baroness Rothschild. —Crimson, deeper margin. 
Distinction .—Light rosy crimson, spotted. 
Delicatum-. —Blush, changing to white. 
Doncaster. —Brightest of scarlets 
Fleur de Marie .—Rosy crimson, lighter centre. 
Francis Dickson. —Scarlet. 
Hannibal .—-Fine rose. 
Hermit. —Scarlet. 
Hogarth. —Rosy scarlet. 
John Spencer. —Rose, margined with deep pink. 
Joseph Whitworth .—Rich dark lake. 
James Nasmyth .—Rosy lilac, blotched maroon. 
James Mason .—Light centre, deeper edging. 
Lady Annette de Trafford. —Cream colour, chocolate 
blotch. 
Madame Carvalho. —Blush, changing to white. 
Minnie. —Blush-white, spotted. 
Mrs. John Kelk .—Clear rose. 
Mrs. John Clutton. —White, very beautiful. 
Mrs. Harry Ingersoll .—Deep rosy lilac. 
Mrs. Mendel. —Pink, yellow centre. 
Roseum grandiflorum .—Deep rose. 
Prince of Wales .—Bright rose. 
Oc-ulissimum. — Rose, intense dark markings. 
Philotis .—Clear crimson. 
Sunshine. —Fiery crimson. 
Temcrlanc .—Dark maroon. 
Tie Warrior .—Rosy scarlet. 
— G. T. 
-- 
TABLE, WINDOW, AND INDOOR 
PLANTS. 
Your correspondent “Madeline,” at p. 264, Dec. 
27tli, 1884, in one of the most pleasant and practical 
articles on window Fern cases which ever came.under 
my notice, and which all who are interested should 
read in the original, mentions that the turning-point 
in her success with her window case came when she 
recognised the merits of Japanese Ferns for furnishing 
it. After candidly describing the troubles of her earlier 
experience, and describing her ultimate victor}' over her 
refractory Fern case, the lady gives a list of plants 
which, when planted in it, brought about the desired 
end without trouble and at but little cost. I must 
say that a better selection could not be made, and in 
her praise of Japanese Ferns for growing in the dwelling- 
house I entirely agree, as most of them having smooth 
evergreen fronds are not susceptible to be acted 
on by changes of temperature or other causes to 
which plants in the house are subject, they are specially 
adapted for such culture. 
The following Ferns, many of which are natives of 
Japan, and all of which are evergreen, are of easy culture 
in the dwelling house :—Lygodium japonicum (the 
