February, 1908 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST 



35 



Planting' and Managing Hydrang'eas 



J. H. Thomson, Toronto 



THERE is probably no flowering 

 shrub grown in Canada that gives 

 such universal satisfaction, pleas- 

 ure and delight, as the outdoor Hy- 

 drangea paniculata grandiflora. While 

 lilacs, syringas, spiraeas, and other shrubs 



prepared and rich. Every spring the 

 plants should be severely pruned back, 

 as the new blossoms always come on the 

 tips of that season's growth. For this 

 reason, it should be spurred back, leav- 

 ing only a couple of buds on last season's 



A Nice Group of Hydrangeas — One Season's Growth. 



In front of verandah last summer at residence of Mr. J. H. Thomson, Toronto 



of this description are beautiful in their 

 season, they last only a very short time. 

 Hydrangeas, on the other hand, do not 

 flower until midsummer, when no other 

 shrubs are in bloom. It starts to form 

 its blossom about the latter part of 

 July, and gradually increases in size 

 and beauty throughout August, and at- 

 taining its greatest perfection about the 

 first or middle of September, and lasts 

 right through until cut off by the frost 

 in October. It commences a beautiful 

 creamy white, which, as the season ad- 

 vances, deepens into a rosy pink. 



The flowers are formed on the end of 

 the season's growth, and come in im- 

 mense panicles which, in well-trained 

 and cultivated plants, sometimes run 

 eight to ten inches in length, making it 

 the most handsome and showy of all 

 flowering shrubs. The blossoms, if cut 

 before frost, can be used with great 

 effect for interior decorations, and will 

 last and hold their color for some time. 



This shrub is planted to greatest 

 effect in mass, being used for borders, 

 beds or hedges. One of the most 

 popular ways of planting is to plant 

 in mass at the base of a verandah, 

 as shown in the accompanying illus- 

 tration, which shows one season's growth 

 of shrubs planted twelve inches apart. 



The hydrangea is perfectly hardy and 

 easy to grow, but will attain a more 

 luxuriant growth if the ground is well 



wood, which would shorten them an 

 inch or two in length. This will allow 

 the whole strength of the root to go into 

 only a few branches, which, having the 

 whole strength of the plant, will attain a 

 large size, and consequently form im- 

 mense blossoms, which would be many 

 times the size of the small flowers which 

 would form if the plant were not pruned. 



Care should be exercised in watering 

 with hose or watering can, to see that 

 the water is not allowed to go on the 

 leaves as they are apt to rust. In the 

 growing season, however, the hydrangea 

 needs lots of- water, but this should be 

 sprinkled on below so that it will not 

 come in contact with leaves in any way. 



Plants can be secured from any re- 

 liable nurseryman for a reasonable sum. 

 Two years old is the best age to plant. 

 Before setting out, prune back with a 

 sharp knife or pruning shears as men- 

 tioned above. 



Oanadian PeacHes 



W. T. Macoun, Ottawa 

 From the fact that peaches are prop- 

 agated on peach stocks grown from 

 stones of cultivated varieties of peaches 

 more good seedlings have been noted 

 than of pears and plums, as if the 

 budded variety dies the stock will 

 often grow up and produce fruit. Only 

 three varieties, however, need be spec- 

 ially mentioned. These are the Banner, 



Fitzgerald, and Ty hurst, the descrip- 

 tions of which are taken from "The 

 Fruits of Ontario": 



BANNER 



Banner is a popular late market 

 peach among the Essex fruit growers. 

 Origin, Essex County, Ont, ; first fruited 

 on a large scale in 1903. Tree, hardy 

 and productive ; fruit, medium to large, 

 round; color, yellow with red cheek, 

 attractive; flesh, yellow; texture, fine 

 grained, moderately juicy; flavor, rich; 

 quaUty, good; value, market first class; 

 season, early October. 



FITZGERALD 



Since the Early Crawford has been 

 such a popular peach both for home 

 use and market, every new introduc- 

 tion of a variety which is of the same 

 class has been welcomed by the pub- 

 He, especially where it may be used to 

 extend the season. The Fitzgerald is 

 not so large as the Early Crawford, 

 but to many, the flavor is finer for 

 dessert, and its season is a trifle later. 

 Like the latter, it is too tender for 

 very long shipments. Origin, in the 

 garden of Mr. Fitzgerald, Oakville, 

 Ont., about 1805; tree hardy, healthy, 

 and productive; fruit, medium to large, 

 roundish ovate; color, bright yellow, 

 covered with deep red; down, moder- 

 ate in quality; cavity, broad and deep; 

 apex, a small point in a slightly de- 

 pressed basin; suture, distinct; stone, 

 free; flesh, yellow, with red at pit: 

 texture, tender and juicy; flavor, ex- 

 cellent; quahty, dessert good; value, 

 home market first class; season, early 

 to mid-September in Niagara district; 

 adaptation, one of the hardiest varie- 

 ties and successfully grown in Geor- 

 gian Bay district. 



TYHURST 



Tyhurst is a very attractive golden 

 yellow peach; considered a profitable 

 variety for the commercial orchard. 

 After fruiting it several years at our 

 Maplehurst station, we think its value 

 has been somewhat o^er-estimated. 

 Origin, a seedhng raised by Mr. Ty 

 hurst, of Leamington, Essex County. 

 This gentleman was so pleased with 

 the peach that he planted nearly his 

 whole farm with trees grown from its 

 pits, and made considerable money 

 out of his venture. Tree, moderately 

 vigorous, quite productive, fruit is 

 inclined to drop as soon as ripe; fruit, 

 medium, ovate; .suture, distinct on 

 one side, terminating in a small black 

 sharp point; color, deep yellow, with 

 tinge of red in the sun; skin, separates 

 easily from the flesh; flesh, free; color, 

 pale yellow; texture, very tender, fine 

 grained melting, juicy; flavor, ex- 

 cellent; quality, dessert very good to 

 best, cooking very good; value, home 

 market first class; distant market, sec- 

 ond class because too tender; season, 

 mid-September. 



