CALCEOLAlUi^, OR SMPPKR WORTS. 



593 



of its (lowers. It lias now somewhat waned in 

 public esteem, and given place to other novelties. 

 1 1 is a shrubby, deciduous plant, witli elliptical 

 leaves, narrowed at each end, and tootlied, Tlie 

 flowers are monstrous, and almost al \va3's ban-en; 

 and the petals have the peculiarity of changing 

 tlieir colour, according to tlieir age, and the 

 nature of the soil. It is decidedly an aquatic 

 plant, and one of large size, will consume in 

 warm weather ten or twelve gallons of fluid 

 daily. It has been supposed that certain chemi- 

 cal agents, especially those of an alkaline and 

 aluminous nature, when mixed with the soil, 

 Iiave tlie effect of changing the colour of the 

 petals from a pink or rose colour, to a deep 

 blue and purple. Accordingly, it has been found 

 that the yellow loam of Hampstead heath, and 

 some other places, and some sorts of peat earth, 

 are found to produce this effect, probably from 

 containing a portion of sulphate of aluminum. 

 Dr Daalen of Antwerp found that turf ashes, 

 and still more effectually the ash of the Norway 

 spruce, the wood generally used as fuel by liim, 

 applied to the roots of hydrangea, produces the 

 blue colour of the petals. A Russian gardener 

 has found that the finest blue is produced by 

 planting the hydrangea in a mixture of claj', 

 and a peculiar sort of bog earth, which is found 

 in the neighbourhood of St Petersburg!!. The 

 two soils are intimately mixed, and are passed 

 through a fine seive. Another mode practised 

 by the same gardener, is to add one table-spoon- 

 ful of alum, to as much common garden earth 

 as will fill a moderate sized pot; but the blue so 

 produced is never so perfect as that from the 

 bog earth and clay. Busch also asserts, that the 

 blue colour can be produced by watering the 

 young plant the summer before flowering, with 

 alum water. According to another authority, 

 by putting the plant into a pot containing a 

 mixture of sandy loam, and fresh sheep's dung, 

 and watering with an infusion of that dung, 

 the same effect will be produced. A mixture of 

 oxide of iron in the mould, is also said to impart 

 the blue tinge. 



The hydrangea is propagated by cuttings; and 

 in order to have a succession of young plants 

 each year, in the beginning or middle of July, a 

 certain number of shoots with three or four 

 joints, are to be selected, cutting them off close 

 to the joint, which is at the bottom of the shoot. 

 These are to be planted in rich earth in a warm 

 border, and covered with a hand glass; they 

 should be shaded during the middle of the day, 

 and sprinkled with water two or three times a 

 week in the evening, so as to keep them always 

 moist, the glass being kept close over them at 

 all times. By the end of August they will be 

 well rooted, and then, or early in September, 

 they must be put singly into small pots, and 

 placed under a frame, which at first must be 



shut up close, and if assisted by a tempeiate 

 licat, so nnicli the better. In the frame they 

 are to be shaded and watered regularly till the 

 middle of October, wdien they are to be taken 

 into the green-house for the winter, where they 

 should be watered almost once a week. In May 

 or June following, they may be planted out into 

 a bed of rich mould in the open gi-ound, to 

 remain there till September, when they are again 

 taken up and potted, and treated as in the pre- 

 ceding winter. Instead of turning them out 

 again next spring, they may be retained in pots; 

 but they must be shifted twice during the sum- 

 mer. By either method strong plants will be 

 formed, fit for forcing or turning out in the 

 succeeding spring. They will thrive in open, 

 warm borders, and endure the winter if the roots 

 are protected from frosts. They should be sup- 

 plied abundantly with water, especially at the 

 period when they are coming into bloom. The 

 most approved soil is a compost of loam and 

 bog earth, or leaf mould, with a little sand well 

 incorporated together. In this they will pro- 

 duce red flowers. If blue are desired, a mixture 

 of Hampstead loam, or wood ashes, or alum, or 

 oxide of iron, as already mentioned, is to be 

 used. 



This plant may also be propagated by layers, 

 using the same process as that directed for car- 

 nations. The oak-leaved hydrangea Ch. qiierci- 

 folia), is also an elegant plant. It is a native 

 of Florida. 



Calceolaria, or Slipper Wokts. Natural 

 family scrophularinece ; diandria, monogynia, ol 

 Linneeus. This genus of pretty green-house 

 flowers came originally from Chili and Peru, 

 and have become great favourites with the public. 

 The corolla is pouched at the lower extremity, 

 and assumes a form not unlike a common slipper; 

 hence their name has been derived. There are 

 numerous species and varieties. 



6'. corymhosa and paralia are herbaceous 

 plants, of great beauty, but somewhat difficult 

 to propagate. C. hicohr, and other branching 

 shrubby kinds, are of easy culture. These may 

 be raised from seed sown in spring, or from cut- 

 tings, first put into a hot-bed early in the season, 

 and then planted out into warm borders. Some 

 hardy kinds will stand the winter if protected 

 by shelter; and others of the shrubby kind may 

 be trained as standards. 



Fuchsia. Natural family santalace<r; octan- 

 dria, monogynia, of Linnaeus. The fuchsia is 

 so named after Leonard Fuch, a German botanist. 

 It is a native of Chili and Mexico, and was 

 recently introduced into this country. The 

 handsome form of the pendant flowers, their 

 vivid colours, and the numbers which succes- 

 sively during the greater part of the season 

 adorn the branches, render this flower a beautiful 

 ornament of the conservatory or parlour win- 

 4 F 



