THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



against it, or exhort their people to stay away 

 but they can and often do provide — unthink- 

 ingly perhaps — some trifling social function to 

 keep them away. Is the church fulfilling its 

 mission to man, to the world, in neglecting 

 the cultivation of the outward adornments of 

 regenerated mankind and teaching the value 

 of beauteous and attractive home surround- 

 ings ? 



If there was a little more time devoted by 

 the church to teaching God through nature 

 and a little less given to dogma, creed and 

 the catechism, it would have built up a bright- 

 er, broader and bettter manhood and woman- 

 hood in our fair land. Not that I disbelieve 

 in either dogma or creed, but I hold just as 

 firmly to the doctrine that the professed 

 Christian man or woman, who neglects to 

 cultivate the outward surrounding to harmon- 

 ize with the regenerated moral nature has 

 performed half only of the obligation. And 

 I hold it the duty of the church, in the per- 

 formance of its full mission, to cultivate in 

 all conimunities the best side of life by its 

 teachings, its influences, and its examples. 

 Let it continue to preach moral and spiritual 

 regeneration through Christ ; let it continue 

 to exhort againt the circus and the horse race, 

 but it can well afford to forego some of its 

 trifling social functions to encourage the love 

 of nature among its young people in the cul- 

 tivation of fruits, flowers and all manner of 

 refining home surroundings. 



Where there is a local Horticultural Society 

 every clergyman in the place should be an 



active member of that society. If he lack 

 taste, natural inclination, or fail to fully 

 appreciate his whole obligation to the Divine 

 ideal, he should be made an honorary mem- 

 ber and prevailed upon by constant solicita- 

 tions to give his encouragement to nature 

 study ; and to stimulate in the hearts of his 

 young people especially, a deeper interest in 

 the charm of attractive home life and a great- 

 er love for the cultivation of those things 

 which tend to the social and moral elevation 

 of mankind. As an association of horticul- 

 turists we need the co-operation of the 

 churches in our work. 



T. H. Race, Mitchell. 



Cardinal Horticultural Society. 



Sib, — We had our exhibit on the 15th ult., 

 and I may say it was a success, as it was a very 

 much better display than I had any idea we 

 would be able to get up. We gave the mem- 

 bers full swing in getting up their exhibits, 

 i. e., we did not keep them to plants, etc., of 

 their own raising. Next time each exhibitor 

 will have to show their own product. I am 

 afraid our subscription list next year will 

 swell too high for our grant if the people feel 

 about it as they do now. I enclose you a 

 clipping from the local. I may seem a little 

 flowery but I think it exprf:sses the general 

 feelings. The writer of the article is not a 

 member of the society. 



E. E. Gilbert, Sec. 



CULTURE OF HYDRANGEAS. 



To have a fine display of large flower 

 clusters upon the Hydrangea, as soon as 

 the old clusters begin to fade cut them 

 away, taking with them a large part of 

 the branch upon which they are pro- 

 duced. New. vigorous sprouts will then 

 push out from the base of the plant, and 

 these can be left untouched till spring. 

 The plants will drop their leaves in the 

 autumn, and should be kept in a cool- 

 but frost-proof place through the winter, 

 watering, however, without interruption, 

 as the plants are injured even in a rest- 

 ing state, if allowed to become dust-dry 

 at the roots. As the buds begin to swell 

 toward spring again, cut back to a few 

 eyes, and encourage the growth of new, 

 vigorous sprouts from the base, each one 

 of which will produce a fine large flower- 

 cluster. To promote a vigorous growth 

 use manure water while the plants are 



developing, but when the buds andflow- 

 ers appear avoid it if you wish flowers 

 of a clear, bright color. Iron filings may 

 be used then to give a bluish color, and 

 bone-dust to brighten the pink color. A 

 six-inch pot will answer for the same 

 plant for several years, if treated in this 

 way. 



Hydrangea paniculata when grown 

 out-doors should be vigorously pruned 

 in the spring. Some persons recommend 

 cutting the plant every year almost to 

 the root — apparently cutting the entire 

 top away. For a grand display of bloom 

 this vigorous pruning is worth adopting. 

 The panicles are not so numerous, but 

 are far larger and show finer flowers. 

 For autumn-blooming this is one of our 

 best shrubs. It is alike useful for either 

 garden or cemetery. It likes a rich, moist 

 loam and sunny exposure. —Park's Mag. 



418 



