RHAPHIOLEPIS.

RHAPHIOLEPIS JAPONICA INTEGERRIMA (syn R. ovata).—­A Japanese shrub (1865), with deep green, ovate, leathery leaves that are not over abundant, and produced generally at the branch-tips.  The pure white, fragrant flowers are plentifully produced when the plant is grown in a cosy corner, or on a sunny wall.  Though seldom killed outright, the Raphiolepis becomes badly crippled in severe winters.  It is, however, a bold and handsome shrub, and one that may be seen doing well in many gardens around London.

RHAPHITHAMNUS.

RHAPHITHAMNUS CYANOCARPUS (syn Citharexylum cyanocarpum).  Chili.  This bears a great resemblance to some of the thorny Berberis, and is at once a distinct and beautiful shrub.  The flowers are large and conspicuous, and of a taking bluish-lilac colour.  Having stood unharmed in Ireland through the unusually severe winters of 1879-80, when many more common shrubs were killed outright, it may be relied upon as at least fairly hardy.  The soil in which this rare and pretty shrub does best is a brown, fibrous peat, intermingled with sharp sand.

RHODODENDRON.

RHODODENDRON ARBORESCENS (syn Azalea arborescens), from the Carolina Mountains (1818), is a very showy, late-blooming species.  The white, fragrant flowers, and noble port, together with its undoubted hardihood, should make this shrub a general favourite with cultivators.

R. CALENDULACEUM (syn Azalea calendulacea), from North America (1806), is another of the deciduous species, having oblong, hairy leaves, and large orange-coloured flowers.  It is of robust growth, and in favoured situations reaches a height of 6 feet.  When in full flower the slopes of the Southern Alleghany Mountains are rendered highly attractive by reason of the great flame-coloured masses of this splendid plant, and are one of the great sights of the American Continent during the month of June.

R. CALIFORNICUM.—­California.  A good hardy species with broadly campanulate rosy-purple flowers, spotted with yellow.

R. CAMPANULATUM (syn R. aeruginosum).—­Sikkim, 1825.  A small-growing species, rarely over 6 feet high, with elliptic leaves that are fawn-coloured on the under sides.  The campanulate flowers are large and showy, rose or white and purple spotted, at the base of the three upper lobes.  In this country it is fairly hardy, but suffers in very severe weather, unless planted in a sheltered site.

R. CAMPYLOCARPUM.—­Sikkim, 1851.  This has stood the winter uninjured in so many districts that it may at least be recommended for planting in favoured situations and by the seaside.  It is a Sikkim species that was introduced about forty years ago, and is still rather rare.  The leaves are about 4 inches long, 2 inches wide, and distinctly undulated on the margins.  Flowers bell-shaped, about 2 inches in diameter, and arranged in rather straggling terminal heads.  They are sulphur-yellow, without markings, a tint distinct from any other known Indian species.