Title: In a Strange Garden: The Life and Times of Truby King

Author: Lloyd Chapman

Publication details: Penguin Books, 2003

Part of: New Zealand Texts Collection

Conditions of use

Appendix Eight: Truby King's Rhododenron correspondance

Truby King's letter to Edgar Stead, Christchurch plantsman, is redolent with clues to King's character. Stead was a well-known naturalist and biologist, and King was highly respectful of his reputation.

42 Sutherland Crescent
Melrose
Wellington
21st July 1933

Dear Mr. Stead,

When you were away in England, your 'Locum-tenens' was infinitely kind and courteous to me, and I only wish I had had more time available for your ideal Rhododendron garden. He very kindly gave me a copy of a previous year's classified catalogue and description of all the most page 252 important Species and Hybrids. Of course, I realised, by the list of responsible names, from Royalty downwards, that the intention was to make, the Capital of the Empire, the world-centre (or perhaps one should rather say the British Empire centre) for this typically English Genus — in the same way that Kew is for the whole range of plants.

I feel very strongly that New Zealand (with its infinite variety of climate and soil, within a comparatively small compass) is naturally more suited for the whole wide range of Rhododendrons than any other country in the world.

Christchurch would, of course, be an ideal centre; but my impression is that the British cult of Rhododendrons, for the Southern Hemisphere, should be centred in Wellington — as the Capital of our country and the seat of Viceroyalty.

I have not spoken to Lord Bledisloe about the matter; but I have often talked to him about Rhododendrons, and found he is not only a Rhododendron enthusiast, but that he has (at his place in Wales) most of the Hybrids I have established myself, besides a good many of the Species.

Both during the present Regime and that of their predecessor's (the Fergusons) I have kept Government House supplied for 8 to 9 months in the year with occasional clothes-baskets full of choice of Rhododendrons; and last year we let them have a good specimen of 'Charles Lawson' for the front hall. In my opinion, 'White Pearl' is equally beautiful, though not quite identical.

I know Tannock contends 'Charles Lawson' is markedly superior, and all New Zealand nurserymen charge a higher price for this Rhodo: than any other, except for the 'Marquis of Lothian', which is, I think, universally admitted to be quite the finest Rhodo: in the world. I don't know whether you are aware of the fact that there is now a considerable demand for 'Charles Lawson' in Australia, on the part of wealthy people who can afford to buy it. Probably Tannock's view is the 'raison d'etre' of this — because they rightly esteem Tannock very page 253 highly; and Sir Heaton Rhodes' brother-in-law (Alister Clark) did his best to secure Tannock for Melbourne, at more than twice his N.Z. salary. [Tannock was a noted plantsman from Dunedin's Botanic Gardens whom Truby deeply respected.]

There is not a single month in the year in which we cannot gather a good basketful of Rhododendrons. A good example of this is 'Christmas Cheer' which has been in absolute perfection for the last few weeks. The secret is not far to seek: on our Southern slopes it is arctic and icy-cold in Winter; but on our steep terraced Northern slopes, facing the Harbour, there is never a trace of frost even in mid-winter.

Compare this with Europe. Away back in 1896 I knew snow to fall in the Riviera, even at Monaco and Monte Carlo; and continue unmelted for a week, while ice remained on the ground for several days.

The Winter of 1896 was the coldest experienced in Europe for several centuries. Indeed, some months spent that Winter in dreary, smoky Edinburgh, inflicted on me a grave recurrence of active Phthisis with spitting of blood, to which I have been subject from time to time from infancy onwards. This drove my Wife and me post-haste to the south of France. We halted for a few days in Marseilles; but ice was banked up there, even in the broad spacious and splendid main street ('Cannebiers') on both sides of the road for several feet high. This completely obliterated the footpaths, and compelled both vehicles and foot passengers to use the middle of the road, which alone was kept clear.

However, as you will realise (from what I said above) it was nearly as cold at Monaco and Monte Carlo: and my authoritative English Physician, who was living temporarily at Monte Carlo, insisted on my going straight to Egypt. But, even so, we had to spend the whole of the following Winter in Queensland, and my health was gravely impaired for years.

The point I want to specially emphasise is this: under no circumstances whatever could anything of the kind take place on the Northern slopes page 254 of my terraced hillside facing Wellington Harbour. Indeed it could not be 'paralleled' anywhere in New Zealand. After all, we live in three small islands nearly 12 miles [I presume he meant 12 hundred] from the Australian Continent; while Europe and Asia constitute one vast, colossal Continent, with its lofty central 'Massif, from which we are getting all our new Rhododendrons blood, through men of the type of Wilson, Forrest, Kingdon Ward, and Farrer besides a number of younger enthusiastic collectors.

My sheet-anchor for everything concerning Rhododendrons has been for the last 9 years Cox's masterful little book, which no doubt you have found equally informative and useful. Indeed, in my opinion it is worth far more than all the other books put together; including Millais' two costly volumes to which I have been much indebted — in spite of their having not even the semblance of an Index, such as any hack drudge would have supplied at a cost of a few pounds.

Directly Cox's book was published, Sir Isaac Bayley Balfour, Regius Professor at Edinburgh University, posted me a copy in which he spoke of it with unbounded admiration; and another copy reached me by the same mail from my Wife's brother who was President of the Society of Chartered Accountants, and Honorary Auditor to the Botanic Gardens. He said that they were all wildly excited about the new book.

On the next page is a proposal for the formation of a 'Royal New Zealand Rhododendron Society' on similar lines to the English Society. I have drawn it up quite crudely, without consulting anyone, simply because it depends entirely upon yourself, and I should like you to knock it into shape, if you approve, because you know far more about the whole subject than I do.

Yours sincerely

(Signed) F. Truby King.

This letter, albeit written later in life when his mental powers were deteriorating, reveals many aspects of King's character: his snobbish page 255 name-dropping and apparent hypochondria, not to mention his wide knowledge of rhododendrons.

The proposal attached to Stead's letter for the formation of a Rhododendron Society was speculative, and apparently met with little favour:

THE ROYAL NEW ZEALAND RHODODENDRON SOCIETY

For Popularising Rhododendrons, and Promoting their Appreciation and Growth, by All Classes — especially Amateurs and Home-gardeners, as our Royal New Zealand Flowering-plant.

Patrons.—	The Governor-General of New Zealand, Lord Bledisloe, and Lady Bledisloe.
President. —	Edgar Stead.
Vice-Presidents.—	Mr Justice Blair. Sir Truby King.
and Executive	Dr. Cockayne.
Committee:—	Hope Gibbons. Keen Cottager.

The reaction of his proposed executive is not recorded, but Lord Bledisloe declined immediately, to King's chagrin. His letter to Bledisloe's Secretary, Sir Cecil Day, is interesting if only for the fawning tone:

Dear Sir Cecil,

I quite understand the Governor General's decision that at the present time it would be inexpedient to form a Rhododendron Society for New Zealand, in view of the need of money to aid the Unemployed. Indeed, I am relieved rather than otherwise by the proposal of a year's respite from active work myself in connection with the proposed Society.

As for my continuing to supply Rhodos: from the Estate at Melrose (as I have done so for the last 9 or 10 years) let me say that as a New Zealander I regard it as a privilege and pleasure to do so. The Plunket Society was very proud when eventually they were graciously page 256 authorised to incorporate the word 'Royal' in the official designation of their Society. We, New Zealanders, regard Vice-Royalty as equivalent to Royalty in this Dominion, and I hope that when the money market mends, and 'Frozen-Credit' no longer dominates and paralyses the world, Lord and Lady Bledisloe will honour us by becoming Joint Patrons of the proposed Society.

I knew that Lord and Lady Bledisloe had a charming home in Wales, and I knew also (by their warm welcome to some trusses of Rhodo: Loderi) that they were Rhodo-Lovers and connoisseurs; but had no idea, until Lord Bledisloe wrote me yesterday, that they had a complete, up-to-date collection of all the best Dutch varieties.

For my part, I have imported nothing new from Holland for the last 9 years. With the exception of a few, which I have planted permanently in the grounds, my plants are still easily movable, being in tubs, and provided with ideal soil and repeated mulchings. This causes them to grow almost as well, and to flower as freely as if planted out.

We have about 20 such Dutch Rhodos: (embracing say 6 or 7 varieties) asking to display themselves; and I hope the Governor and Lady Bledisloe will humour their vanity!

Sending the plants both ways, to and fro, is not the slightest trouble; because it only entails the lorryman calling at Government House in passing, both for the delivery and return. This he would have to do say 6 times, to and fro, in the course of six months. Embracing only a third of our tubbed plants.

In the spring of 1924 Truby King wrote to a number of his fellow rhododendron aficionados, seeking their co-operation in defining characteristics of their plants' growth and flowering habits. At this time he was ordering plants for his garden, but had not planted very much.

I am trying to get together the material for a small practical book on Rhododendrons, with special reference to New Zealand, but also in order to give reasonably reliable information as to several most page 257 important matters which cannot be found in any of the half dozen leading books and articles I have on the subject.

It is obviously of the first importance to have uniform colour descriptions which would convey correct impressions ... Of course it is a matter of the very first importance for anyone who is trying to make a beautiful and artistic garden to know what colours there are, and to have them on his palette. The best remarks on this subject are to be found in a recent book by an American — Mrs Francis King. She says: The past mistress of the charming art of colour combination in gardening is, without doubt, Miss Jekyll. Her book "Colour in the Flower Garden" is the last word in truly artistic planting.'

Truby's letter included a list to be filled in recording name, flowering duration and remarks for sixty rhododendrons, which presumably were commonly available in New Zealand. There is no record of the number of respondents, nor is there any evidence that King made any progress with his 'small practical book'. Was he proposing to do to rhododendrons what he had done with women and Plunket?