August The Gardener's Holiday 



duce one head of bloom, which may be considerably in- 

 creased in size by watering weekly with liquid manure, or 

 artificial fertiliser. 



Amateurs usually prefer to grow a large plant which 

 will produce many blooms, rather than a small plant 

 carrying one large head of flowers. With the former 

 object in view the top of the rooted cutting is taken off in 

 spring to cause side shoots to develop, and during summer 

 these in turn may be stopped to encourage the develop- 

 ment of further branches. Such plants may be expected 

 to bloom the following year. 



Pruning Hydrangea. The pruning of established 

 Hydrangeas appears to be imperfectly understood by 

 amateurs, and it is of some importance, since incorrect 

 pruning may imperil the display. When a plant gets 

 bare at the base, and unshapely, one season's bloom must 

 be sacrificed in order to obtain a presentable plant, which 

 can be done only by cutting back the shoots in spring. 

 The fresh growths that follow will effect a great improve- 

 ment in the shape and general health of the shrub, and 

 may be expected to bloom the following year. Of regular 

 pruning the Hydrangea needs little. In autumn, when 

 the plants have finished blossoming, weak and obviously 

 worthless shoots should be cut out, and in spring the re- 

 maining ones may ,be shortened slightly, if that seems 

 necessary. One of the most important points in growing 

 Hydrangea is to keep the plants always cool, and, during 

 summer, to expose them freely to air and sunshine so that 

 the shoots may become well ripened. 



The Panicled Hydrangea (paniculata), which bears 

 large pyramid- shaped heads of cream-white bloom in 

 late summer, needs different treatment. It is grown 

 out of doors, and a group of plants forms a handsome 

 display in the garden. In February or early March the 

 shoots of last year's growth are cut back to within 2 

 or 3 inches of their base if really fine heads of bloom are 

 desired. 



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