212 



Greenhouse and Stove Plants. 



HYDHANGEA. 



HOYA. 



(Greenhouse.) 



The flesh-coloured Hoya, H. carnosa, 

 from China, and the variegated varieties of 

 this species, H. carnosa picta and H. 

 carnosa variegata (which are similar in 

 habit of growth, differing from the normal 

 type in having variegated leaves), will 

 thrive in a greenhouse. They aie medium 

 groweis, and may be either used for drap- 

 ing a pillar or rafter, or as trained speci- 

 mens, in which case they are best grown 

 on a wire trellis. Their j^ropagation and 

 after treatment is similar to that advised 

 for the twining stove species, excej^t that 

 they require less heat, and, growing slower, 

 are longer before they need putting in full- 

 sized pots. 



HUMEA ELEGANS. 



This well-known greenhouse biennial is, 

 when well grown, one of the most elegant 

 objects that can be introduced to a con- 

 servatory or cool plant-house. It is raised 

 from seed, which should be sown during 

 spring in pots filled with loam, to which 

 has been added some sand and leaf-mould. 

 Stand in a little warmth, if such is avail- 

 able, until the seeds have vegetated ; if not, 

 in a greenhouse. When the plants are 

 large enough move them singly into 3-inch 

 pots, and as soon as they get established 

 place them near the glass. A pit or frame 

 will answer duiing the summer, where 

 they can get plenty of light and air, being 

 careful never to let them suflfer for want of 

 water. Directly the pots are full of roots 

 move into others 4 inches larger, and 

 syringe overhead daily ; about August it 

 will be well to give them a shift into 9 or 

 10 inch pots, as if cramped for root-room 

 the lower leaves will be injured and the 

 appearance of the plants spoilt. Winter in 

 an oidinary gi'eenhcjuse temperature in a 

 light position, so as to keej) the growth 

 short and stocky. If large examples are 

 I'equired, they should be moved to pots 2 

 or 3 inches larger in spring, and as soon as 

 the soil is moderately full of roots give 

 manure-water once or twice a week, treat- 

 ing in other respects as in the previous 

 summer. When in bloom they will keep 

 for many weeks in good condition, their 

 grass-like plumes of diminutive, distinct- 

 coloured flowers having a beautiful appear- 

 ance. As already said, the plant is a 

 biennial, consequently to keep up the 

 stock seed should be sown every spring. 

 It has a strong aromatic perfume. Intro- 

 duced from Australia. 



Insects. — Red spider and aphides are 



both partial to this Humea ; to keep down 

 the former the leaves should be syringed 

 daily through the growing season, getting 

 the water well to the under side. On the 

 first appearance of ai^hides fumigate, as if 

 the insects are allowed to remain even for 

 a short time the leaves will be spoilt. 



HYDRANGEA. 



The fact that many of those engaged in 

 gardening pursuits are led in the selection 

 of what they grow much more by a jjlant's 

 being new or rare than by its possessing 

 the real merits of producing handsome 

 long - enduring flowers freely, with a 

 vigorous constitution that makes its cultiva- 

 tion easy and success comparatively certain, 

 is always forced upon us whenever we see 

 a well-bloomed example of Hydrangea. 



The genus is found dispersed over a wide 

 expanse of both the eastern and western 

 hemispheres, in China, Japan, and the 

 mountain ranges of Nortliern India, in both 

 the Eastern and Southern States of America, 

 Chili, and Peru, but it is to the Japanese 

 or Chinese greenhouse species that we are 

 the most indebted for subjects best adapted 

 to pot-culture. 



Those who live in distant parts of the 

 country, on their first visit to Covent 

 Garden Market, if such happens to be 

 during the spring or early summer, see 

 nothing that strikes them more forcibly 

 than the numbers of Hydrangeas grown in 

 small pots, not generally more than 6 or 7 

 inches in diameter. The plants grown to a 

 single stem, 6 or 8 inches high, are furnished 

 with three or four pairs of healthy leaves, 

 surmounted by a globular head 12 or 15 

 inches through, generally of the freshest and 

 clearest bright pink colour, although a few 

 are metwitli possessing the blue shade that 

 is so much prized by some, and for 

 producing which there are several different 

 lecipes, in the shape of soil more or less 

 imjiregnated with iron filings, charcoal, or 

 alum, or pui'e peat. We have always 

 found that if the plants were supplied with 

 the large quantities of manure- water 

 requisite to give size to the heads of flower, 

 whatever the nature of the soil or in- 

 gredients added to it, the blooms when fully 

 matured wei'e j)ink of some shade. Larger 

 specimens are grown for the London market 

 beaiing several heads of flower each, but 

 for general decorative puqioses the small 

 plants with single heads are much the 

 most to be preferred. In addition to the 

 pleasing colour, general attractive character, 

 and long endurance of the flowers, the 

 plants possess the advantage that during 

 the time they aie in bloom they can be 



