426 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
June 27, 1908; 
Picotee edged variety in Concessum, but 
Mrs. John Penn is much more marked in 
this respect, the dominant colour, forming 
a broad margin, is lake, and the centre 
is clear, rosy crimson. The two colours 
are quite noticeable at some distance 
away. Those who object to long names 
should be pleased with Mum, and the 
beautiful white flowers marked with a 
lemon blotch are very noticeable in the 
collection. They are produced in large 
trusses, and in great numbers. Princess 
of Wales is another Picotee, with rose 
edges, fading to a pale centre. 
As far as size is concerned, we now 
come to the queen of Rhododendrons 
amongst the light coloured varieties in 
the showy and very effective Pink Pearl. 
These flowers vary somewhat according 
to age, being darkest when they first ex¬ 
pand. They might then be described as 
pink, afterwards fading to a beautiful 
flesh colour. The variety is now getting 
well known amongst lovers of Rhododen¬ 
drons for the huge size of its flowers. 
Those who attempt it should give it a 
situation sheltered from the prevailing 
winds of the district, so that the flowers 
may not be marred when in their full 
beauty. The white flowers of Duchess of 
Connaught have a cluster of lemon col¬ 
oured spots and are highly attractive. 
While the lighter coloured varieties are 
most effective and catching to the eye at 
a distance, the dark ones also have their 
uses, and make a striking effect by con¬ 
trast. In broad daylight, of course, they 
are highly conspicuous, though they 
would be partly lost in the dusk of the 
evening. There is just one thing want¬ 
ing to "make these Rhododendrons pleas¬ 
ing to everybody — the bulk of them lack 
scent. Nevertheless, amongst this gay 
display we noted a pale and not very con¬ 
spicuous variety that drew our attention 
to it on account of its fragrance. This 
was named Rhododendron fragrans, and 
is a bush of moderate height with pale 
lilac, sweetly scented flowers. 
Notwithstanding these facts, we are 
still of opinion that most people will go 
for such gloriously attractive varieties as 
Frederick Waterer, which has beautiful 
conical trusses of fiery crimson flowers 
set in the midst of clusters of long and 
handsome leaves. The accompanying 
illustration will show these points. An¬ 
other equally handsome variety was 
Charlie Waterer, with scarlet flowers giv¬ 
ing place to a lighter centre. A large 
bush of it is very effective. Cynthia may 
be described as rosy crimson, while those 
of Duchess of Bedford are crimson, fading 
in the centre and produced in huge 
trusses. The deep rose flowers of Wil¬ 
liam Ewart Gladstone faded somewhat in 
the centre, and are produced in huge 
trusses. Altogether darker are the red 
flowers of Viscount Powerscourt, which 
are spotted with black on the upper side 
of the flower. The rosy crimson flowers 
of Mrs. John Waterer are produced in 
trusses of great , size, and are effective in 
proportion to the size of the bush. Even 
darker than this, but, nevertheless, very 
bright, are the scarlet-crimson flowers of 
Michael Waterer. The habit of the plant 
is close and bushy, so that the flowers 
have a fine background. 
Double flowers amongst hardy Rhodo¬ 
dendrons are very rare, hence the reason 
why Fastuosum flore pleno has main¬ 
tained its position in the garden for so 
many years. The flowers themselves are 
of a pleasing light lilac hue, of great 
size, with a cluster of small petals in 
the centre, thus making them appear 
more or less double even at some distance 
away. The variety flowers freely and is 
quite telling in a collection. The flowers 
of Helen Waterer are white in the centre, 
with a bright scarlet edge, so that this 
makes another very distinct picotee edged 
Rhododendron. The wavy character of 
the flowers of John Waterer gives a bush 
of it a striking appearance. The flowers 
are produced in large trusses, quite cover¬ 
ing well-flowered bushes,, and the undu¬ 
lated outline of the flowers recalls what 
we meet with amongst fine double varie¬ 
ties of Hollyhock. Amongst so many we 
cannot overlook the rosy crimson flowers 
of Kate Waterer, which have a yellow 
patch on the upper side of the flowers con¬ 
trasting with the crimson. 
The above are only a few of the 
choicest taken at random amongst- the 
immense number of varieties all crowded 
into this area, but in any good sized or 
representative collection those we have 
named would only constitute a very 
choice and selected nucleus. We stated 
above that only one thing was necessary 
to make Rhododendrons perfect, but 
amongst growers themselves there is a 
desire for yellow, probably also blue. If 
it were not for a question of hardiness, 
there would be no difficulty in getting yel¬ 
low, orange, and other shades of that 
class, as they really exist amongst hybrid 
greenhouse Rhododendrons, but then it 
would be" undesirable to make hardy 
Rhododendrons tender even with the pos¬ 
sibility of getting yellow varieties 
amongst them. Probably, also, yello 
shades could be introduced through tl 
hardv section known as Azaleas, but ; 
the difference between these is so grea 
it might interfere with the constitutio 
and the floriferous character which a 
ready exists amongst hardy Rhododei 
drons. 
- +AA - 
RAISING . . 
Lobelia fulgens 
From Seed. 
Most growers of this beautiful plan 
sooner or later, lose their stock if the 
always stick to the old plants. Tl 
dreaded “ rust” at the roots is the cause < 
this, and, so far, there seems to be r 
specific for preventing or curing this. 
The best way to obtain and keep 
healthy stock is to annually raise fres! 
.plants, from seeds. Sow any time durir 
June, and do not be in a hurry to see tl 
seedlings appear, as this seed germinaf 
very slowly. As soon as large enough 
handle, prick off into boxes of fairly got 
soil and keep close in a frame until gro 1 
ing freely. Afterwards admit abundan 1 
of. air, eventually removing the sashes 
together. In the south, the plants m: 
be lined into a frame at the end of Se, 
tember, but in cold, damp localities, it 
best to let them remain in the boxe' 
which should be wintered in a cool gree. 
house. Although these Lobelias delig, 
in very moist soil while growing, th 
must not be kept saturated during wintf 
C. Blair. 
Preston House, Linlithgow. 
