THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 109 
size larger than those previously occupied. In subsequent years 
they must be pruned and repotted in much the same manner, but in- 
stead of the shoots being cut back to within so short a distance of 
tke soil, the young shoots, that is those produced the previous year, 
must be fruned to just above the first joint from the old wood, and 
it may be as well to say that unless this severe pruning is followed 
up, the plants will soon be filled with a mass of worthless spray, in- 
stead of having a fair number of shoots of sufficient strength to 
bear large heads of bloom. Those out of doors must be pruned in 
much the same manner. To secure a stock of plants for producing 
huge heads of bloom while in a quite small state, strike cuttings of 
the young shoots as early in the summer as the wood is moderately 
firm. Shoots of two or three joints, taken off near the base, and 
inserted several together in medium-sized pots, and shut up ina 
frame or under a hand-glass, will strike freely. Pot them off sepa- 
rately immediately they are nicely rooted, and when the small pots 
are moderately well filled with roots shift into other pots two sizes 
larger, and this will suffice to carry them until the end of the 
summer, and indeed until they have bloomed the following season, 
if it will be more convenient to keep them in small pots. The com- 
post to consist of turfy loam two parts, and well-rotted manure one 
part. During the first season the most satisfactory growth will be 
made in a well-ventilated pit, but if it is not convenient to keep 
them under glass, place them at the foot of a south wall, and in any 
case they must be out of doors during September and October, to 
secure the thorough ripening of the wood. 
One of the chief points in the cultivation of Hydrangeas in pots 
is to supply them copiously with water from the moment they com- 
meénce to make new growths in the spring, until the autumn follow- 
ing, when the development of the new wood is complete. The large 
specimens should from April to August be stood in pans containing 
three or four inches of water; but the smaller plants may be sup- 
plied with a sufficiency of moisture without the intervention of pans 
or saucers. Liberal supplies of liquid manure will be highly bene- 
ficial, and especially so to the plants in small pots. The out-door 
specimens will also receive material assistance from copious supplies 
of water during periods of dry weather, but, generally speaking, 
those out of doors do very well indeed without the aid of the water- 
ing-can. 
er lencens in pots may be wintered in cold frames, sheds, or 
out of doors; but when left out all the winter the pots must be 
plunged in ceal ashes or some other loose material, because of the 
risk of the pots being split and the roots injured by the undue 
exposure to the winter frosts. The plants intended for forcing 
should be kept in a frame and pruned early in the winter, as they 
start more readily into growth when placed in heat than others kept 
out of doors. 
The sorts worthy of the most general cultivation in addition to 
Hydrangea hortensis, are :— 
H. hortensis variegata,a beautiful variety with variegated foliage. 
This at the winter pruning should be cut close down to the surface 
April. 
