THE CANADIAN HUUTICU'LTUKIST. Ill 



Variegated m* Fainted Lady, Pcenijtora, and the Double Red, cannot yet be 

 dispensed witli. They flower from the first of August till the first of 

 October. In this latitude an objection is sometimes raised to the Althaea, 

 because it is said to winter-kill iu severe seasons. This occurs, however, 

 only with young plants or with specimens recently transplanted, which are 

 not yet fully established. Youiig plants should be protected with straw or 

 evergreen boughs the first and second winter after being set out, and as 

 soon as they are well rooted they become perfectly hartly. 



Another real treasure which all plant lovers estee.u highly, on account 

 of its many good qualities, is the 



HYDKANGKA PANICULATA GRANDIFLORA, OK PLUMED HYDRANGEA, 



Planted singly or assembled in groups or masses, it becomes in August 

 and September, when in full bloom, a real curiosity to many, \vhile to 

 others fully impressed with its magnificence, it is a noble object deserving 

 the higliest praise it is possible to bestow on any hardy plant. A circular 

 bed of this shrub occupying a prominent position on our lawn has been the 

 object of so much attention every year that I furnished a brief description 

 of it for the London Garden. The plants composing the bed wei-e iu full 

 tlower on my return from Europe two 'years ago, and I wrote the editor, 

 Mr. Robinson, that notwithstanding the many remarkable and efiective 

 beds of flowering and fine foliage plants which I had seen abroad, I thought 

 nothing equalled this. " The mass consists of thirty-five plants, with a 

 broad edging of the Coleus ' Shah ' around it. The contrast between the 

 gieen grass, the crimson and yellow foliage of the Coleus, and the immense 

 white and pink panicles of the Hydrangea was novel and beautiful. I 

 have often seen and admired lai-ge single specimens of this Hydrangea, but 

 masses like this are uncommon, and I call attention to this manner of 

 planting, as it tends greatly to heighten the efi'ect and increase the attrac- 

 tiveness of this noble shrub." A few hints i-elative to its culture and 

 management may not be amiss. Being a robust, rank grower, and a very 

 free bloomer, it requires to be well fed. The more food the larger will be 

 the panicles, the greater their number, and the longer they will remain in 

 perfection. I think that I do nut exaggerate when I say that most culti- 

 vators actually starve this plant, and this fact explains why fine specimens 

 are not oftener ' seen. A top dressing of the very best manure should be 

 given the plants every fall, and in spring as early as possible it should be 

 incorporated with the earth by means of the spading fork. During the 

 dry summer weather, when the earth around the plants is apt to become 

 hard, it should be loosened and made mellow. If drouth should prevail at 

 the flowering period, which is generally the case, then apply water liberally 

 every evening. Another important opez-ation connected with its manage- 

 ment is the {)runing of the plant every spring. This should be performed 

 early, say in Mai-ch, before the sap begins to move, and the stem should be 

 cut back within two or three buds of the old wood. These will then push 

 forth vigorously at the growing season, and every shoot will ])roduce a 

 panicle of flowers. If these directions are observed the result will b^ 

 surprising. 



