12 NAT. ORL-ti. SAXIFRAGES. 



tie it t^ I'lie attention oi every practical florist. Though destitute 

 of any peculiar flavor, or valuable as a medicine, it has been an ob- 

 ject of particular attention among the Chinese ; in proof of which 

 we find its blossoms painted upon almost every article which was 

 formerly imported from that country. It is said never to have been 

 found in its wild state by any botanist; but it is cultivated as a gar- 

 den ornament in almost every country. 



A short description of the propagation and culture of this most 

 beautiful shrub, may not be uninteresting to the reader. The 

 Hijdrangea Hortensis is very easily increased by cuttings, which 

 method is pretty generally diffused and understood within the last 

 few years. It thrives best in good rich loamy soil, well watered. 

 Various experiments have been made to introduce its culture in the 

 open field and by itself, the failure of which fully proves that it is 

 to be considered rather as a green-house plant than a hardy one ; 

 as they will seldom if ever thrive even on the borders of the flower 

 garden. The flowers like those of the snowball are monstrous, and 

 produce no seed. It has been remarked by some florists, that if the 

 plant be well watered with alum water, it will produce beautiful 

 blue flowers the season after. 



Medical Properties and Uses. This species of Hydrangea, has 

 never been introduced into regular practice, yet it possesses some 

 valuable properties. It is now considerably used in some parts of 

 Asia as a remedy for rheumatism. The bark of the root is the part 

 best adapted for medicinal purposes, and is said to contain tonic, 

 astringent, and emmanagogue properties. It is more valuable as an 

 ornamental flower than a medicine, as it is even suspected by many 

 to be powerfully narcotic and drastic. It yields its properties both 

 to water and rectified spirits. 



