MARCH.] GREEN-HOUSEREPOTTING. 97 



H. versicolor, and H. robusta are the finest ; they are in 

 colour yellow, blue, and lilac. We have very little 

 doubt but these bulbs will do to plant out in the gar- 

 den in April, and be lifted in October. Keep them 

 from frost. Thus treated, they are very desirable 

 bulbs. 



Hoveas, about eight species, pretty plants of New 

 South Wales, blue pea-flowering evergreen shrubs; 

 the finest are H. linearis, H. rosmarinifblia, H. longi/olia, 

 and H. Celsii, which is the most superb, and flowers in 

 abundance. They grow and flower freely; the pots 

 should be drained. 



Hydrangea hortensis is a well known plant, and much 

 esteemed for its great profusion of very elegant, though 

 monstrous, flowers. They are naturally of a rose co- 

 lour, but under certain circumstances of culture they 

 become blue. If grown in brown loam with a little 

 sand, they will preserve their original colour; but if 

 grown in swamp earth with a little mould of decayed 

 leaves, they will become blue. The swamp earth zyld 

 vegetable mould being more combined with aluminous 

 salt than brown loam, is the cause of the change; and, 

 when first found out, (which was merely by chance,) 

 was thought a great wonder. It must have a very 

 plentiful supply of water when in flower, which is pro- 

 duced on the shoots of the previous year. They will 

 neither grow nor flower well if they are not kept con- 

 stantly in the shade. When kept in the sun, the foli- 

 age is very brown ; and by being neglected in watering, 

 we have seen the flowers completely scourged. Being 

 tolerably hardy, when the winters are mild, by a little 

 13 





