CHAP. XI.] HYDRANGEA HORTENSIA. 317 



This water should, however, be changed every 

 dav, and when given to the plants it should al- 

 wavs be as nearly as possible of the same tem- 

 perature as themselves. The little musk plant 

 (Mimulus moschatus) requires the same treat- 

 ment as its more showy brethren. As all the 

 species of Mimulus have been found, in their 

 native habitats, growing- in coarse sand or 

 gravel on the brink of a river, this kind of soil 

 should be chosen for them in pots; and the 

 soil in which they are grown can hardly be too 

 poor, provided they have abundance of water. 

 In Chili, the inhabitants eat the leaves as a 

 kind of vegetable. The shrubby kinds of 

 Mimulus, viz. the common monkey plant (M. 

 luteus) and the scarlet-flowered species (M. 

 puniceus), are now considered to belong to a 

 new o'enus called Diplacus. They are both 

 natives of California; and in their treatment 

 they should be considered as greenhouse plants, 

 and have rather a better soil, and less water, 

 than the true kinds of Mimulus. 



Hydrangea Hortensia is another plant that, 

 when grown in a pot, requires to have the 

 saucer kept half- full of water. There are 

 several species of Hydrangea, most of which 

 are hardy shrubs ; but Hydrangea Hortensia, 

 the kind usually called the Hydrangea, is a 

 native of China, and only half-hardy, though 

 it will live in the open air in sheltered situations, 

 or with a very slight protection. This plant 

 was named Hortensia by the botanist Commer- 

 son in compliment to Madame Hortense La- 

 peaute, the wife of a French watchmaker. The 

 hydrangea should be grown in a rich loamy 

 soil, and pruned every year; all the old wood 



