HYB 



[ 498 ] 



HYD 



following statements, as affording some 

 guide to the raiser of varieties: 



1 . The seed-vessel is not altered in 

 appearance by impregnation from ano- 

 ther plant ; therefore, no hasty conclu- 

 sion of failure is justified by that want 

 of change. 



2. The colour of the future seed, not 

 of that first hybridized, seems to be 

 most influenced by the male plant, if 

 its seeds and flowers are darker than 

 those of the female. Capt. Thurtell, 

 from his experimemts on the pelargo- 

 nium, found the colour and spot of the 

 petals to be more influenced by the 

 male than by the female parent. In- 

 deed, all experience proves that the 

 progeny usually, though not invariably, 

 most resembles in colour the male 

 parent. 



3. Large stature and robustness are 

 transmitted to the offspring by either 

 parent, but Mr. Knight generally found 

 the most robust female parent pro- 

 duced the finest offspring. 



4. Capt. Thurtell, from lengthened 

 observation and experiment, has ascer- 

 tained that the form of the petals fol- 

 lows most closely that of the female 

 parent. 



5. Mr. Knight says that the largest 

 seed from the finest fruit that has 

 ripened earliest and most perfectly 

 should always be selected. In stone- 

 fruit, if two kernels are in one stone, 

 these give birth to inferior plants. 



G. The most successful mode of ob- 

 taining good and very distinct varie- 

 ties, is to employ the pollen from a 

 male flower grown on another plant 

 than that bearing the female parent. 

 To avoid previous and undesired im- 

 pregnation, the anthers in the female 

 parent, if they are produced in the 

 same flower with the pistils, must be 

 removed by a sharp-pointed pair of 

 scissors, and the flower inclosed in a 

 gauze bag, to exclude insects, until the 

 desired pollen is ripe. Another effec- 

 tual mode of avoiding undesired im- 

 pregnation, is bringing the female 

 parent into flower a little earlier than 

 its congenors, and removing the an- 

 thers as above described; the stigma 

 will remain a long time vigorous if 

 unimpregnated. 



7. When double flowers are desired, 

 if a double flower should chance to 

 have a fertile anther or two, these 

 should be employed for fertilization, 

 as their offspring are almost sure to be 

 very double. 



HYDRA'NGEA. (From hydor, water, 

 and ayyeion, a vessel ; referring to the 

 cup form of the capsule or seed-vessel. 

 Nat. ord., Hydranyeads [Hydrangy- 

 aceee]. Linn., iQ-Decandria2-I)iyynia.) 



Deciduous shrubs. Propagated by division 

 of the roots, cuttings of the ripened shoots, and 

 flourishing best in moist sheltered places. Hor- 

 tensis, the common garden Hydrangea, though 

 a little more tender, stands the winter well in 

 the southern parts of the island ; and though 

 cut down in most winters in the neighbourhood 

 of London, yet if a slight protection of mulch- 

 ing is thrown over the roots, the stems will rise 

 strongly, and bloom well after Midsummer, if 

 care be taken to remove all the weaker ones, 

 just as is done with a Fuchsia stool. This spe- 

 cies makes also fine ornaments in pots, and may 

 be propagated at almost any time ; the young 

 side shoots when two or three inches in length, 

 inserted in sandy soil and in heat, striking in a 

 few days, while the old stems will strike any- 

 where, but require their time. To grow it well 

 requires light, rich compost, well drained, and 

 abundance of water. The flower generally 

 appears first of a greenish colour, becoming of 

 a pale rose ; but in some districts the colour 

 becomes a beautiful blue. Notwithstanding all 

 the experiments that have been made, there is 

 still a little doubt as to the cause that produces 

 the change. When iron filings, and a solution 

 of alum are used, in some soils the blue colour 

 is produced, while the same means will not 

 produce it in others ; and other soils will almost 

 invariably produce this blue colour without any 

 peculiar matter whatever being added. The 

 loams at Kenwood, at Hampstead Heath, and 

 Stanmore Heath, and the peats at Wimbledon, 

 as well as some bogs near Edinburgh, are fa- 

 mous for producing this blue in the Hydrangea. 

 When trying artificially with iron filings and 

 alum water, we have had different colours on 

 the same plant. This variation is merely tem- 

 porary it cannot be propagated like a variety : 

 a cutting from a blue plant will produce a rose 

 one, unless the peculiar treatment be continued. 



GREENHOUSE. 



H. Belzo'nii (Belzoni's). 3. Blue. Japan. 



Japo'nica (Japan). 3. Blue, white. July. 



Japan. 1843. 



ceeru'lea (blue-lowered). 3. Blue, 



white. June. Isle of Nepau. 1844. 



stella' ta (starry -flowered). 3. Pink. July. 



Japan. 



H. arbore'scens (tree-like). 6. White. July. 



Virginia. 1736. 

 di 'scalar (two-coloured- leaved). 



6. White, green, August. North 



America. 



