HYDEANGEAS 



WE have in general cultivation two 

 classes of hydrangea. One 

 hardy, so much so that it will 

 stand the most severe northern winter with- 

 out protection, and will grow wherever the 

 lilac will ; and that is saying a great deal for 

 it, for we have come to consider the lilac an 

 iron-clad plant. This class is chiefly repre- 

 sented by the variety catalogued and sold as 

 H. paniculata grandiflora. The other class 

 has several representatives, the most promi- 

 nent of which is otaska. This is a Japan- 

 ese variety, of wonderful merit, popular 

 with all who undertake its cultivation, be- 

 cause of its great floriferousness, and, pro- 

 bably, the favorite of all large-growing, 

 shrubby plants for porch and veranda deco- 

 ration during summer. Being too tender to 

 withstand the rigor of our northern winters, 

 it is necessary to house it from the cold by 

 giving it a place in the cellar or a cold-stor- 

 age building about the first of November. 

 There are several varieties quite similar in 

 general habit, but this one easily takes the 

 lead. 



The hardy hydrangea is a shrub having 

 many merits. It grows well in any ordi- 

 nary soil, but in order to do itself justice it 

 should be given rich earth and encouraged 

 to make vigorous development. When pro- 

 perly fed and well cared for generally it /ill 

 grow to a height of six or seven feet, with 

 a proportionate spread of branches from the 

 ground up. As it branches freely, and each 

 branch as a general thing bears a cluster of 

 blossoms, the effect produced by a well- 

 grown specimen is very ornamental, and es- 

 pecially so because of the enormous size of 

 its flower clusters. These are sometimes 

 more than a foot across, and often nearly 

 that in length. When they first open the 

 flowers are a creamy white. They after- 

 ward become ivory in tint, and change to- 

 ward the last to a dull pink tinged with 

 green. They last for many weeks — indeed, 

 until tfee coming of winter. They appear in 



early September, therefore it will be readily 

 understood that in this shrub we have one 

 that is at its best during the late fall when 

 other shrubs are flowerless. This habit of 

 late flowering is one of its chief merits. 



It can be grown as a single specimen with 

 good effect if properly trained, but it is most 

 effective when grouped. Set from half a 

 dozen to a dozen plants together, according 

 to the size of the space you wish to fill, and 

 you get from them a great mass of foliage 

 against which their enormous clusters of 

 bloom will be displayed most strikingly. In 

 grouping this shrub set the plants about two 

 feet apart each way. When they have be- 

 gun to grow cut away the greater share of 

 the old top and encourage them to push 

 shoots from the base. To grow them as 

 standards defeats the effect you aim at in 

 grouping them, to a great extent, as you 

 want them to branch low and form a mass 

 of branches close to the ground. Every 

 spring go over the bushes and cut them back 

 well. Shorten every branch in order to in- 

 duce a vigorous new growth, upon which 

 you must depend for flowers. At the same 

 time manure the soil well, working it in well 

 about the roots of the plants. After plants 

 become old it is a good plan to remove near- 

 ly all the old branches and let them renew 

 themselves. This can be done from time to 

 time and old bushes be made as vigorous as 

 new ones. The roots never seem to lose 

 their vitality, therefore they can be depended 

 on to produce new and healthy tops when- 

 ever there is a demand for them. 



For hedges of an ornamental character ^n 

 the home grounds this plant deserves es- 

 pecial notice. By pruning we can make it 

 compact and keep it of any size to suit us. 

 To make a good hedge of it set two rows of 

 plants eighteen inches apart, so setting them 

 that the plants do not come opposite in the 

 rows. Treat as advised for groups, but 

 prune more closely, unless you desire a large 

 hedge. If allowed to grow to suit them- 



