Climatic 
conditions in 
relation to 
hybridisation. 
Predisposition 
hybridisation. 
Bfjobobenbron ^ccietp ^ote£l. 
The best authority quotes the following description by the discoverer of the 
plant; “ I shall never forget,” says Mr. Low, ‘‘ the first discover}.' of this gorgeous 
plant; it was epiphytal upon a tree which was growing in the water of a creek. 
The head of flowers was very large, arranged loosely, of the richest golden yellow, 
resplendent when in the sun ; the habit was graceful, the leaves large. The roots 
are large and fleshy, not fibrous, as those of terrestrial Rhododendrons. It is 
the least common of the genus in the island (Borneo), and has many varieties, 
which differ in having larger flowers and leaves, the former of a more or less 
red colour.” Dr. Bindley (see Journal of the Horticultural Society of 
London, quoted above), says ; ” The species is allied to R. javanicum ” ; and 
the Botanical Magazine calls “ R. javanicum the nearest ally to the 
present.” 
If R. Lobbii and R. Brookeanum are in reality closely allied with 
R. JAVANICUM, and (see the Gartenflora) also with one another, the great 
triumph and curiosity of the new strain lie not so much in the fact of the breeding 
between these allied species (though closely allied species will not always inter¬ 
breed), as in the union of R. jasminiflorum with two of them (see pedigree in 
last paper). 
It will be also observed that both “Princess Royal” and “Princess 
Helena,” being hybrids, bred again with R. Lobbii, which is interesting; and 
I should be glad to know whether the progeny in these cases produced poUen as 
freely as I know some of the strain do. The most general symptom of hybriditj'^ 
is well known to be abortion of the anthers, and absence of pollen, the stamens 
being apparently more susceptible than the pistil. That it was no easy task to 
unite R. javanicum with R. jasminiflorum may be gathered from what I said 
the other day of the utter failure, in a very competent quarter, of an attempt 
to breed, both ways, between the two. I tried myself, I find, in 1877, to breed 
with pollen of R. javanicum on R. jasminiflorum, but without success. 
Experience has taught me, however, that one attempt, or even two of the kind, 
are by no means conclusive. 
My friend, Mr. Anderson-Henry, has expressed strong views (see 
Gardeners’ Chronicle, April 13th, 1867), on the occurrence of certain happy 
atmospheric moments for the union of vegetable species. ‘‘ Never try such 
things,” he said to me the other day, “ when an east wind is blowing.” 
Gaertner says : ‘‘ Die Sommer-Warme und die Morgen-Zeit sind der Bastard- 
Befruchtung vorziiglich giinstig.” 
Without committing myself to these views, it is impossible to deny that some 
causes do contribute in an (at present) occult manner to the fertilization of 
flowers ; certain flowers of a truss of a Rhododendron, for instance, accepting 
fertilization and others refusing it; and a plant one year taking a cross w'hich 
next year it seems to decline. All good horticulturists should keep their eyes 
and their note-books open for the observation of such phenomena, w'hich they 
may feel certain are not the mere results of chance. 
to The Messrs. Veitch’s success, and the failure elsewhere, may, however, 
possibly be explained by the existence of numerous varieties of R. javanicum, 
some of them perhaps inclined to a union with R. jasminiflorum, and others 
58 
