titfte J^ftobobenbron ^ocietp ^oteisi 
too often forgotten by planters, that much white is needed to bring out the tints, 
and that the common kinds may produce wonderful results when judiciously 
arranged. 
Presently, " Lady Eleanor Cathcart,”* although the bloom was somewhat 
on the wane, seemed to assert, in contradiction of the remarks above, that a 
hybrid might live and reign for ever. Entirely unsuperseded she certainly 
remains, and strange to say, has refused, so far as I know, to transmit 
her charms to any of her descendants, who are mostly wishy-washy in the 
extreme. I have always believed in the descent of this variety from R. jiaximum, 
a species curiously misnamed, and not often seen, although both late and hardy. 
As we passed on the colours changed at each opening. Standards and dwarfs 
and lusty bushes were alike loaded with bloom, and the winter and the drought 
had done apparently little or no harm. 
In truth, an elaborate system of artificial irrigation had supplied the needful 
moisture, and I fancy that the hedges had warded off some of the cruel winter’s 
rage. A nursery garden has always a somewhat formal air about it, but as we 
strolled from close to close, shut in by taU hedges, each seemed to sparkle like 
a perfect jewel, for the raindrops were upon the blossoms, and the arrangement 
in heavy masses suits the quality and growth of our plants. I need not say that 
some of the Azalea closes were heaped up, as it were, with burnished gold, or 
heaved with billows of vegetable fire. But the grandest view of all was from the 
top of the long avenue, which appeared to fade away in the dim distance, an 
endless vista of pines and ornamental trees, bedded in sheets of purple, crimson, 
and white Rhododendrons, and of every intermediate hue. 
In gardens devoted to some particular plant it is interesting to see the original 
seedling plants of famous kinds, from which has been propagated the stock to 
people, so to say, the whole earth. 
Mr. Waterer’s firm has raised and sent out many of the best of our old and 
new favourites, such as "Brayanum,” “ Barclayanum,” “ Everestianum,” 
"Stella,” "Mrs. Glutton,” "Mrs. Holford,” "Mrs. Hankey,” and 
" Marshal Brooks.” We saw the seedling bushes of some of these dear 
and familiar friends, and rare trusses of “ H. W. Sargent” (one of the best), 
"The Moor,” "Sigismund Rucker,” "Ralph Sanders,” and others, good 
in flower and in foliage. Doubtless many of my readers have observed the 
"Marchioness of Lansdowne ” (rose-colour, with very black spotting), in 
Hyde Park. I know very few better Rhododendrons. Of unnamed seedlings 
we were shown many hopeful youngsters of varying types, destined to make 
a noise in the world. 
When one considers how this wealth of hardy hybrids springs from the 
blending of only two or three of our numerous species, and some of these by no 
means the hardiest, one is filled with astonishment at the variety and the endless 
progress. Well may one ask whether the other species, as yet almost untouched, 
may not yield, in due time, as rich a harvest; but I must return to this fruitful 
* The pink of this hybrid appears to be unique. Is the parentage known ? 
My enquiries suggest maximum x arboreum. —C.C.E. 
90 
