d)e i^fjotjo^entsron ^ocietp iSote^. 
In the flower, so far as I have been able to observe, the crimson of " John 
Waterer ” has a hard task to contend with the white of R. Aucklandii, 
although the seedlings vary much in respect of colour. 
I have another strain, however, kindly supplied by my friend, Mr. 
Anderson-Henry, in which the contest is between species and species, and not 
between species and hybrid. The cross in this case is between R. Aucklandii, 
and R. Thomsonii, the latter being the seed-bearer. The donor says most trul}'^ 
with regard to this, breed ; “ The vigour of Thomsonii’s progeny is wonderful, the 
leaves being enormous.” I believe they have not yet bloomed, but Mr. Luscombe 
has bloomed several seedlings of a cross between R. Thomsonii and R. Fortunei, 
the fame of which has reached German science, and one of which at least is, in 
my humble opinion, truly splendid, although inclining to the paler tints. I have 
some plants of this strain which I hope to bloom, under glass, in a week or two. 
Meanwhile Mr. Luscombe (than whom there has been no more enthusiastic 
Rhododendron grower), informs me that ‘‘ his first flowering plant disappointed 
him sadly, but three really good ones, out of twelve or fourteen, have quite 
satisfied him.” 
One seedling, named Devoniense, has been presented to Mr. Harr}" Veitch, 
and Mr. Luscombe has some hundreds still to bloom. It remains to be 
seen whether these plants will prove hardy under our skies. 
Hybrids more 
resistent to cold 
and more tenacious 
of life. 
It is known that the late Mr. Standish raised seedlings between R. AucIvLandii 
and some of his hardy varieties. Two of these appeared last 5 '^ear at the Horti¬ 
cultural Gardens, and one received a First-class Certificate. 
Nothing was said as to their parentage, but to a practised eye it was ob\dous. 
The plants were not very well grown, but were said to have stood the severity of 
winter. They should be shown in better form again. 
R. Thomsonii, mentioned above, and named after the distinguished and 
lamented botanist, whom I had the pleasure and the honour to know, deserves 
more favour than it seems generally to find. The brilhant crimson of its colour 
is well nigh unrivalled, and the graceful fall of its bells in a well-grown plant is 
indeed beautiful. It has shortcomings, nevertheless, which invite to diligent 
culture for improvement. Seed of this species has been often introduced from 
various localities in India, and among others by Mr. Elwes, and, still better, 
plants have been raised from English-grown seed. 
Enthusiastic hybridisers seem to forget how much in the way of variety and 
improvement may be effected by merely breeding their species in Europe true 
for several generations. 
I shall have great interest in pitting the Fortunei hybrids of Devonshire 
against the Aucklandii hybrids of Edinburgh, and both of them against my 
own hybrids of both strains, hopefully trusting to Gartner’s dictum ; ” most 
hybrids can bear a more intense degree of cold than their parents, and have more 
tenacity of life.” 
72 
