388 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
May 7, 1904. 
Rhododendrons. 
SOCIETIES. 
No one, I think, can gainsay that the spring of this year (as 
far as we yet have had it) has been an exceptionally favourable 
one for early-flowering trees and shrubs ; and although the 
treacherous character of this climate of ours tends to hold in 
check any extreme show of enthusiasm on our part, having 
still o-reen in our memory the havoc wrought by the late frosts 
of la'st spring upon the tender opening flower-buds, yet our 1 
admiration has been greatly provoked by the display of colour 
„iven by Prunus, Pyrus, Magnolia, Forsythia and Erica, these 
subjects this year being burdened with bloom, Prunus Amyg- 
dalus being extremely floriferous in and around suburban 
London. ,, 
Those who were fortunate enough to be present at the 
Daffodil Show held at Truro, Cornwall, on the 8th ult. could 
not fail to be struck with the number of early-flowering subjects 
shown which we in the precincts of London dare not look for 
yet Conspicuous: among other things were the large trusses 
of the queen of all shrubs, the Rhododendron, whose beauty 
could not be surpassed by anything else present. 
Now, although Rhododendrons are seen m almost every 
wood garden, they can only be appreciated to the fullest extent 
when seen in the south-west districts of England. Here they 
And a congenial home and all that they require in the way of 
temperature and atmospheric moisture, and well repay the 
cultivator with a brilliant flowering period of six months, com¬ 
mencing in December with R. nobleanum, and reaching its 
zenith in April and May with the lovely Himalayan spefcies-- 
R. arboreum, R. barbatum, R. grande, R. Falconen, R. cam- 
panulatum, R, Auckland! and others, together with the 
numerous varieties and hybrids of R. ponticum. 
To ensure success with the Rhododendrons they should be 
protected as much as possible from north winds, these bluster¬ 
ing winds! causing more injury to the expanding blossoms than 
would a frost, and Cornwall, though greatly favoured, is not 
exempt from the former by any means. Rhododendrons de- 
li<rht in a, well-drained soil of peat and leaf mould, free from the 
presence of lime, the latter being injurious in a more or less 
decree to 1 this genus. The less the soil is disturbed after plant¬ 
ing the better, as Rhododendrons being essentially surface- 
rooters, digging near the plants would in all probability do> 
them injury ; also when planting keep the best soil to the 
surface, for the same obvious reason. 
The propagation of the Rhododendron is a very interesting 
part of their culture, but space will but admit me briefly to 
touch on it. ... 
The popular method is by seed and grafting, but layering is 
also greatly practised by some nurserymen. 
Seed is sown, in February and March in pans or boxes of 
fine sandy peat, made firm and watered before sowing the seed, 
covering the seed but lightly with silver sand, placing in, gentle 
heat and shade from sun. Grafting may be performed in July 
and August, but excellent results are also obtained when done 
in February, and I consider the “ saddle-graft ” best for Rho¬ 
dodendrons, as there is less danger of the graft being knocked 
away when, after union is effected, they are planted out in 
beds and subjected to careless handling of the hoe. The stocks! 
used are two-year-old seedlings of the common, ponticum, the 
grafts being placed in warm, close propagating frames until 
union is effected. W. 
Primroses on Railway Banks. —The railway hanks in Sussex 
and Surrey are at present gardens of Primroses, for miles to¬ 
gether in many instances. Here they are allowed to attain 
their natural perfection, as the public cannot get at them. 
Between Three Bridges and Hayward’s Heath, in Sussex, the 
railway banks are perfect pictures at present. The same may 
be said of the line between Leatherliead and Guildford, m 
Surrey. In some places they are replaced by Cowslips, which 
do not attain the same profusion, however. The last named are 
more at home in moist low-lying meadows. At the same time, 
they straggle to the top of the driest chalk downs in open 
situations, while the Primroses take to the copses. 
MIDLAND DAFFODIL SHOW. 
April 26th and 27th. 
The Silver Medals offered for the best bloom of each of the 
three sections, viz., Magnicoronati, Medncoronati, and Parvi- 
coronati, were awarded as follow: King Alfred (Magni¬ 
coronati), Messrs. J. R. Pearson and Sons; White Queen 
(Mediicoronati), Messrs. Pope and Sons; Poeticus Horace 
(Parvicoronati), Air. E. M. Crossfield. . , 
The Silver Medal offered by the Birmingham Botanical and 
Horticultural Society as a champion prize to the exhibitor 
obtaining the greatest number of points m Classes o, <, 9. 10, 
and 11 was won by Mr. H. B. Young, Methermgham Lincoln; 
and the Bronze Medal for the second highest fell to Mr. F. A. 
Walton, Handsworth. . 
The Birmingham Botanical and Horticultural Society also 
offered Silver and Bronze Medals for the exhibitors obtaining 
the greatest number of points in Classes 6, 8, 9, 10, and 12, and 
in Classes 13 to 25. The winner in the first case was the Rev. 
T. Buncombe ; second, A. S. L. Melville. In Classes 13 to 25 
the Silver Medal was awarded to Mr. R. C. Cartwright and the 
Bronze Medal to Mr. J. A. Kenwick. 
Tire following flowers received Certificates :—- 
Saladin, a glorified Weardale Perfection, raised from a cross 
between this and Mme. de Graaff. The trumpet is of a pale 
lemon colour, paler than Weardale, while the segments are ot 
Mme. de Graaff character. The mouth of the trumpet measures 
over U in. across, and is fringed, flanged, and recurved. (Award 
of Merit .to Air. E. M. Crossfield, Little Acton, Wrexham.) 
Maid Marion.—This differs from the above in the shori 
widely-expanded trumpet, which is of palest lemon. An ex¬ 
quisite flower, with segments of Mme. de Graaff. Same 
parentage as above. (Award of Merit to Mr. Crossfield.) 
Miss Willmott gained Awards for t3ie following varieties, 
most of which have already been described in The Gardening 
World: —Count Visconti, A. M. ; Warley Scarlet, A. M.; 
Zenith, A. M. ; Great Warley, F. C. 0. ; Moonstone, F. C. L ; 
Furstin Maria Oettingen, a Johnstoni, with pale lemon trumpet 
X' lllSLLJl A1XLCAICL --- ■> L , 
llr in. long. This is slightly crinkled and open at the mouth. 
The delicate lemon-white segments are of moderate width, and 
overlap considerably. , , . , „ n 
Messrs. Barr and Sons gained Awards of Merit for:— W hite 
Knight, an exquisite drooping pure white Ajax, with very *ong 
cylindrical trumpet with a wide open but not recurved mouth. 
Snow Elf, a lovely pure white Ajax of Mme. de Graaff origin, 
and of somewhat the same type as Airs. George Barr. White 
Knight and Snow Elf were exhibited on behalf of Messrs, de 
Graaff, of Leyden. Janet Image, previously-described; quite 
one df the best of the Leedsi section. 
Dainty, a lovely little primrose-coloured Johnstoni, probabh 
a smaller* and paler Cecil Rhodes. (Award of Merit to Mrs. 
R O.- Backhouse, Hereford.) Etlielbert, a beautiful flower o: 
poeticus origin, 2^ in. across; the saucer-shaped cup is lemor 
and citron in the centre, bordered with bright, light orange; 
perianth segments pure white, firm, and overlapping. (Aware 
of Alerit to Airs. Backhouse.) . 
Rev. G. H. Engleheart received four Awards of Merit v 
follow ; —Fearless, a strong, sturdy incomparabilis raised fron 
grandis x incomparabilis form ; broad creamy-white segment 
surrounding the rich yellow crown, which is ljjin. across, ant 
beautifully fringed at month. 
Gold Eye.—Belonging to the Engleheartii section, this ha 
a coin-like cup of a rich yellow colour, elegantly bordered witl 
orange ; the flower measures 3 m. across, and the cup | m. 
the firm, almond-shaped segments are pure white, slightly ovpi 
lapping, and very symmetrical. 
Epic..—A magnificent poeticus of the largest size ; 
pr 
■ohahl 
piv. o --- x-- u -*• , _ 
the finest yet raised. Immense round solid flower, with seg¬ 
ments of great breadth and substance. The eye is deepl 
suffused with daik red. 
Acme.—A poeticus hybrid, and one of the most, beautifi; 
flowers we have seen. Pure white overlapping segments, ap 
111 1 »Y Vi. o nv jiuiv — ... x I O V 
proaching ornatus in character ; flat vivid scarlet crown, 
in width. The whole flower is about 3 in. across. 
White Muticus.—A Botanical Certificate was awarded t 
this beautiful little rarity. From the Rev. S. E. Bourne. 
Rose Mme. Levavasseur and tree Carnation Leander hot 
received First-class Certificates. These were exhibited t. 
Messrs. Felton and Sons, Hanover Square, London, W. In or 
report last week we omitted to mention Messrs. Felton’s super 
exhibit, which contained very fine Roses, Orchids, Carnation 
and Ericas, A Gold Aledal was awarded this fine display. 
