BREEDER'S ROUNDTABLE 1994

Presentation by Velma Haag

I am honored to be asked to speak to this group. It was just twenty years ago in 1974 that we met at the first Breeder's Roundtable in Pittsburgh. Many of you were there and will remember that Jane Goodrich took notes and transcribed the entire proceedings.

This new innovative addition to the American Rhododendron Annual meeting in 1974 was the brainchild of Dr. Augie Kehr. We owe him great thanks for this and for the many other contributions he has made to the society. These have been of the greatest value in elevating the esteem of the society to worldwide recognition. It gave me the greatest of pleasure to see him receive the Pioneer Award of the Society last night.

For you newcomers to hybridizing, you have the benefit of the pollen bank and knowledge of freezing and storing pollen. When Russ and I were first bitten by the bug, you only had pollen from your own plants or from friends. You could only make crosses on plants which bloomed at the same time or after the pollen parent. Often, it was a long-time process of growing a plant, waiting a few years for it to bloom and then be able to make a cross.

I urge you to support the pollen bank and the seed exchange by your contributions and purchases (if you are not already doing so). The most recent listing of the seed exchange confirms the fact that you are doing a great job. Keep it up.

I don't think I need to tell you that hybridizing is a labor of love. If you think that you will cash in on your hybrids, think again. Fortunately, hybridizing for Russ and me has been our hobby. No time, no effort, no expense was in the way. It was always a challenge with untold avenues to pursue. And an extra bonus, a good investment for a long life.

Through the nearly 40 years, we have planted out some 15 to 20 thousand seedlings. Of these, we have selected less than a dozen plants which we consider worthwhile.

Study Salley and Greer's Rhododendron Hybrids book to know the heritage of old and newer hybrids. Without this knowledge, you are really playing a lottery.

Augie has asked me to relate some of the Do's and Don'ts of our experiences in some 35 years of hybridizing. But first, I would like to tell you a little about our climate. It may vary substantially a mile away as the crow flies.

Just because we are several hundred miles south of PA, NJ, NY and New England, we are not in the tropics. Our own climate ranges in temperature from a high of 90 degrees in summer to a low of minus 10 to 12 degrees some winters, with many warm days in February and March. This may be followed by a deep freeze to 20 degrees or less in April and frost is not unheard of in May. It might best be described as erratic. Rainfall is plentiful, though not always evenly distributed. Ours averages 79 inches annually with a daily shower preceded by many cumulous clouds in late July and into August. This gives the plants a welcome break from high intensity sunshine and clear blue skies.

A very interesting phenomenon of this area in called THE THERMAL BELT. This illusive area is here and there, never mapped. Frost-free areas may be as much as 60 days longer than adjacent areas. Such a garden is that of Pat and Gordon Tooley in our area. They will welcome visitors this afternoon.

Now for Do's and Don'ts:

Do #1 : Keep good records - not on a scrap of paper, not in a loose-leaf book, and maybe not on your computer. Will it be working 20 or 30 years from now? And use a pen, not a pencil. We have four such books:

Book #1: For crosses made each year and later checked for the ones which produced seed. I wonder now why so many of our first year crosses did not produce seed. Thank goodness, they didn't. The weather? Maybe. Dr. J. Harold Clark once remarked that he never had to dead head as his climate was so cool that plants seldom set seed.

Book #2: For recording seedlings that were planted in flats - with year, flat number, number of rows of each cross or parts of a row. The labels were stapled to the side of the flat, except for crosses of only a couple of plants so they don't fall out or get moved.

Book #3: The seedlings were planted in beds, approximately 4 ft. by 25 ft. Four rows of seedlings in each are planted left to right. Each variety labeled and recorded. These beds were inventoried at times and books brought up-to-date. Time and weather selected the hardiest.

Book #4: This book lists selected plants with reference to bed and row. The selected plants are numbered with the year selected and the 1st, 2nd, 3rd selection of that year. That designation stays with the plant until it has had a number of years to prove itself. For instance: Whitewater was 78-12, Golden Delicious was 87-29, Blue Ridge came before the numbering system selected in the early 70's. Great Smoky and 24 Carat were also selected in the early years.

Do #2: Set a goal. At least in the beginning. This may change over the years. How about a good hardy red? Or a true blue elepidote? We still need a hardy yellow and orange.

Do #3: Support the pollen bank and the seed exchange.

Do #4: Know your species.

Do #5: Enjoy.

And now for the Don'ts:

Don't #1: Don't register a plant on its first bloom, or its second, or its third. Don't clutter up the international register with plants that may shortly fall by the wayside. Let the plant prove its worth.

Don’t #2: Don't waste your time and energy on open pollinated seed unless you are just practicing. An average of seven years is a long time to practice.

Don't #3: Don't baby your seedlings - too much. If they have what it takes, they will prove it. But do give them a chance.

Just a word or two on Blue Ridge. More recently, we crossed Blue Ridge with Blue Diamond x Tet Carolina. The resulting hybrids appear to be hardier and are more floriferous. However; they are not as deep a blue. None of these are introduced at present. Each spring I consider backcrossing on Russautii but then, I realize the cross would be frosted in our climate. Maybe someone would like to follow thru on that.

Some of you have asked why our garden was not on tour. It was originally planned along with two gardens in the area until the bus company decided against this particular tour. You are welcome to come to our garden this afternoon and to the other gardens as well. Detailed directions are available. Our garden is anything but level. You will be well advised to wear sturdy shoes and watch your every step. The paths are narrow and designated for traffic in one direction only.

Thank you.

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