F. W. SCHUMACHER ° . - ° * Sandwich, Mass. 
RHODODENDRON HYBRIDS 
Considerable attention is being given to the creation of new hardy 
Hybrid Rhododendron varieties approaching the achievements of English 
breeders. Except in favored areas along the Pacific Coast we cannot expect 
to duplicate their results. Possibilities, however, exist in all areas where the 
hardy Catawbiense Hybrids can be grown for the introduction of new hybrid 
varieties which combine in their blood-lines the superior flowering qualities 
of many of the partially tender Asiatic species and the hardiness of the 
proven Catawbiense Hybrids. Foundation stocks of this type by American 
breeders are available to a limited extent, chiefly comprising combinations 
with — Decorum, Discolor, Fortunei, Haematodes. A wider range of possi- 
bilities is available to us thru the work of English breeders. Their 
best creations involve the blood-lines of the following species: 
Arboreum, Auriculatum, Diaprepes, Discolor, Fortunei, Griersonianum, 
Griffithianum, Haematodes, Eriogynum, Elliotti and others. 
The use of seed from these English hybrids offers the quickest approach to 
foundation stocks from which, by selection and cross-breeding, superb hardy 
American varieties can be developed. 
In all breeding work the achievement of excellence requires time and 
patience. Few of our modern breeders are favored by the sum of all con- 
ditions conducive to successful breeding work. The life effort of a single 
breeder may culminate in a number of good creations but possibly all of 
them depart from their work with the realization that the best is yet to 
come. It stands to reason that the spade work which breeders before us have 
done should be utilized to the fullest extent. 
More stress should be laid on the creation of suitable foundation stocks 
to work with than on the achievement of prominence from the start. Many 
breeders in their frantic quest for glamour fail to realize that glamour is 
not readily reproduced from glamour and that outstanding plant material 
often is obtained from modest parent stock. Unknowingly,,promising new 
plant material is often discarded by an obstinate regard for excellence which 
simply cannot be obtained in one generation while, with seed from this same 
material, the desired results may readily be had in the next. Points of excel- 
lence to be considered are: 
A—Good constitution i.e. the physical appearance of a healthy plant 
with good foliage. 
B — Hardiness. 
C — Flower characters as to color, substance, shape and size of trusses. 
A combination of excellence in all these points, the desired standard, is hard 
to achieve. Breeders will often have to content themselves if they have 
scored partly in the above points in first generation. Their reward will come 
if they continue to work with the foundation stocks thus achieved. 
All accomplishments in plant breeding before our times, many long before 
laws of genetics were Known, may have been achieved in this fashion. Clas- 
sic proof are the many excellent Azalea, Camellia and Rose varieties produced 
in previous generations and centuries. 
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