Hydrangea. Of this there are four species known in our 

 gardens ; one of which is from China, and three natives of our 

 country. They are plants of the most easy culture, spread- 

 ing freely by radical shoots, and may also be increased by 

 layering or cuttings. They are as follow : 



Hydrangea hortensis, or Changeable Chinese. This is 

 well known for its extremely showy flowers, which, during 

 their developement and decline, present a variety of shades 

 and colours. It has also been found that soil has a singular 

 effect in this respect ; and it is remarked, that when planted 

 in a sandy or indifferent soil, the flowers are of a rose co- 

 lour but when black swamp mould is used, the blue is found 

 to prevail. As the plant is a native of low wet soils, it 

 flou'rfshes most in such a situation, or by the application of 

 plentiful waterings. When it was first introduced to Eu- 

 rope, it was nursed as a very tender plant, but it is found 

 now to withstand perfectly the winters of Long-Island ; and 

 with the protection of some slight covering in winter, would 

 doubtless succeed much further north. 



Hydrangea quercifolia, or Oak Leaved. This is next in 

 beauty to the foregoing ; its foliage being particularly fine, 

 the flowers white, and the large clusters of them assuming 

 a pyramidal form. 



Hydrangea "vulgaris, or Common White Flowering. 

 This grows to the height of from four to five feet, but neither 

 the foliage nor the flowers have any thing particularly strik- 

 ing in their appearance ; it ^hly answers as one among the 

 many to fill up a varied shrubbery. Plants of inferior ap- 

 pearance, however, possess this merit, that they serve by 

 contrast to heighten the value of others. 



Hydrangea radiata^ or Ray Flowered* This is a shrub 

 of more humble growth than the preceding, seldom rising 

 over two feet ; the flowers are white, and are produced on 

 the clusters in a radiate manner. 



Hyfiericum, or St. John's IVort. The shrubby species 

 most commonly cultivated for ornament are the following : 



Hyfiericum kalmianum, or Laurel Leaved. This has 

 small foliage much resembling the Kalmia angustifolia, or 

 Narrow Leaved Laurel, whence it derives its specific title. 

 It forms a shrub of about four feet in height, and produces 

 its flowers, which are yellow, towards the end of summer, in 

 the greatest abundance, and is considered very ornamental. 



Hyfiericum firoti/icum, or Prolific Flowering. This at- 

 tains to the height of two or three feet ; its leaves are more 



