108 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
than satisfactory. The more recently introduced kinds, which have 
mostly come from Japan, are of an equal degree of hardiness, and 
may be cultivated under much the same conditions. Attention has 
been specially directed to their hardiness, because I am desirous of 
showing that owners of gardens in which there is no glass what- 
ever, may enjoy the beauty of the flowers without having the 
garden disfigured during the winter season with mats or heaps of 
coal ashes or leaves; and also that when large specimens are 
required for the embellishment of the terrace or steps, they may 
be grown without occupying space required for subjects that really 
want shelter. 
All the Hydrangeas are somewhat particular as to the character 
of the soil, and, as a rule, they make the most vigorous growth and 
bloom most profusely when planted in friable soils resting upon a 
dry, warm subsoil, and the least satisfactory progress in heavy 
clays. But even on soils of the description last mentioned, fine 
specimens, bearing an abundance of flowers, may, with a little 
extra trouble, be had. Previous to planting them in clays, 
whether along the front of the shrubbery border, or in beds by 
themselves, take out a portion of the staple soil and fill in with 
road scrapings, turfy loam, and partly decayed manure, and well 
incorporate with the staple to a depth of twelve or fifteen inches. 
Previous to planting in soils of an ordinary description it will 
suffice to mark out the stations, and then dig in a moderate 
quantity of manure. They may be planted at any time when the 
soil is in a workable state; aud April is, perhaps, one of the best 
months in which to plant, as they then have the whole summer in 
which to become established, and acquire strength for the produc- 
tion of a splendid display of bloom the following season. The 
usual height of these shrubs is from eighteen inches to two feet, 
and the best effect is produced by planting them about eighteen 
inches from the edge of the grass, or the side of the walk, with 
some evergreen shrub of low growth in front of them. 
Small plants consisting of a single stem, and bearing one large 
head of bloom, such as may be seen in the florists’ shops in the 
early part of the summer, are very useful for decorative purposes 
generally. They are more especially useful for placing in jardinets 
and fancy flower-pots in the drawing-room window, as they are not 
readily affected by adverse influences, and they remain in perfection 
a considerable period. They, however, produce the most powerful 
impression when in the form of specimens measuring four or five 
feet over, and as they may be had of large dimensions by a very 
simple course of procedure, I would strongly recommend amateurs 
to try their hands at their production. For conservatories, terraces, 
and, indeed, promenades generally, they are alike valuable, and 
when well done generally bring the cultivator much credit. To 
work up large specimens, commence with plants two or three years 
old, and some time before they commence to make the season's 
growth prune all the shoots back to just above the first joint, and 
then turn them out of the pots, reduce the ball of soil considerably, 
and after trimming the roots moderately, return them to pots one 
