HUDSONIA HYDRANGEA 623 



that it did best planted in a made bed consisting of peat at the bottom, 

 and about 6 ins. of sand at the top. So far as winter cold is concerned, 

 it must be hardy anywhere in Britain, considering the high latitudes it 

 reaches in a wild state. But even in American gardens it is not easy 

 to establish. It may be recommended to those knight-errants in gardening 

 who delight in mastering difficult subjects. It probably needs a sandy, 

 well-drained, slightly saline soil, with full sunshine. 



HYDRANGEA. SAXIFRAGACE^. 



A group of Asiatic and North American deciduous shrubs, sometimes 

 treelike, sometimes climbing, with the leaves opposite or in threes, and 

 large terminal corymbs or panicles of flowers. A peculiarity of Hydrangea, 

 shared among hardy shrubs by Viburnum and the rare Schizophragma, 

 is the production in most of the species of large, showy, sterile flowers and 

 small fertile ones on the same inflorescence. The sterile flower has no 

 stamens or seed-bearing parts, but consists merely of three to six flat, 

 spreading sepals with some remnants of petals in the centre. The 

 functions of these flowers are no doubt advertisement and the attraction of 

 insects for purposes of fertilisation. The perfect or fertile flowers are quite 

 small and very numerous, the sepals and petals four or five, the* stamens 

 eight or ten. Seed-vessel a small capsule, with the styles and calyx 

 adhering, many-seeded. The sterile flowers are usually confined to the 

 margin of the inflorescence, but some species have nothing but fertile 

 flowers. In gardens the most popular of Hydrangeas are those culture- 

 forms with nothing but sterile flowers. 



The stronger-growing species like paniculata and Bretschneideri 

 require a rich loamy soil to bring out their best qualities. The 

 hortensis section do not appear to be very^ particular as to soil or 

 position. Most of the genus are easily increased by cuttings made of 

 moderately ripe summer wood, placed in gentle heat. H. quercifolia is 

 better layered. The following species should be pruned back every 

 spring : arborescens, cinerea, paniculata, radiata. The question of blue- 

 flowered Hydrangeas is alluded to under H. hortensis; several Asiatic 

 species vary from blue to pink. 



Among the species not given detailed mention below are : 



H. HIRTA, Siebold. A low shrub with very coarsely toothed leaves somewhat 

 bristly on both sides, and corymbs 2 to 3 ins. across, of none but small fertile 

 flowers. Native of Japan. I have seen it from Mr T. Smith's nursery 

 at Newry, but it has little garden value. 



H. VIRFNS, Siebold. Branches slender, pendulous, bearing small 

 lanceolate or oval leaves, and, at the end of short axillary shoots, small 

 corymbs I to 3 ins. across, with often only one to three large sterile blossoms, 

 which are whitish and f to \\ ins* wide. Native of Japan, and of elegant 

 habit, but only suitable for the milder parts of these islands. Cultivated by 

 Sir John Ross of Bladensburg, at Rostrevor, Co. Down. 



H. ALTISSIMA, Wallich. 



A deciduous climber, up to 40 ft. or more high, attaching itself to tree 

 trunks by aerial roots in a wild state ; young shoots either hairy or smooth ; 



