42 



Thk Canadian Horticulturist. 



loose. The best plan is to cultivate them freely in the early part of the season, 

 and then cease stirring the ground at midsummer, in order that the young wood 

 may become well matured before the cold weather. A light dressing of ashes 

 and superphosphates, applied every year is most desirable. Barnyard manure 

 may be used, but, if applied too freely, it produces too succulent a growth of wood 

 and a consequent liability to blight. 



Less pruning is required for the pear than for the apple. A simple thinning- 

 out of crossing branches, and heading back of a too rampant growth of the 

 young wood, is about all that is retiuired on the standard varieties. In the case, 

 however, of the dwarf varieties, a half or two-thirds of the young wood should be 

 removed every fall or spring. By this means the dwarf trees are kept in a bushy 

 form, which is more symmetrical in appearance, besides being a better form to 

 resist high winds. Neglected dwarf pear trees, which have not been cut back as 

 we have described, grow uj) too high: and, being top heavy, are easily overturned- 



The blight is the terror and despair of pear growers, in every section of the 

 country, but we hope to overcome this difficulty in the near future, by the use of 

 copper solutions, which seem to have a most beneficial effect upon the general 

 health of the pear. These sprayed on the foliage early in the season gives it a 

 bright, green color and renders the fruit bright and clean. 



The Hydrangea. — Thomas Hogg is an old 

 favorite with ua, with its many clusters of pure 

 white flowers. Hydrangea rosea, beautiful rose 

 color, with the freeness of its flowers will always 

 bea market vaiiety. By mixing iron tilings with 

 the soil during the summer, and wateiing with 

 alum water when potted, you can change tlie color 

 of the flowers of Otaksa to a blue. The Hydrangea 

 is easily grown from cuttings. One stiuek in 

 March, planted out before the Hrst of May in rich 

 soil and mulched and watered legularly, will by 

 C)ctober make a plant tit to go into a seven or eight 

 inch pot. Do n(»t pinch or top the Hydangeas 

 after tlie miildle of .Juno that are wanted for Easter 

 forcing. Secure the Hydrangea again.st frost, as it 

 ib liable to injure tlie flower hud. I lift mine by the 

 Kttli ot October, pot tliem in good rich soil and 

 place tiiem until New ^'ear'8 in a cold frame, giving 

 air during the day and protecting them at night 

 from the frost. Jhey are brought into the green- 

 house at New N'ear's and given a temperature of (iO 

 tlegrees at night with air during the day, then in- 

 crease the temperature to (i") degrees at night with 

 little air during the day, until the flowern )>egin to 

 color. Then gradually give them more air during 

 the day an 1 reduce the temperature at night, this 

 will give a bright color to your flowers and liardy 

 plants. Tlie Hydrangea and I'lantier i{<»se if grown 

 in a warm tem[)crature and ex|)OHeil without being hardened will wilt. The Hydrangea 

 when in growth reijuires plenty of watering and an occasional watering of licpiid manun-. 



8 — HYDKANt;EA PaNKII.ATA 



(Jkamuki.oka. 



