The Canadian Horticulturist. 



y^rK^s^TH THE HYDRANGEA. 



^^OUTH of Philadelphia, the tender varieties of the Hydran- 

 gea, of which there are about a half-dozen popular ones, are 

 grown in the open air ; but at the North, with the exception 

 of one or two varieties, they are only grown as pot plants, 

 either in the house or conservatory. 



The Hydrangea belongs to the Saxifrage family, and is a 

 near relative of the well-known Syringa, or Mock Orange, of 

 our gardens. Its name is derived from two Greek words, 

 pidaoE, water, and dxyo?, a vase, and thus signifies a water 

 vessel, in allusion to the shape of the fruit. It is widely 

 distributed over the world, some thirty-three species being known, some 

 of them natives of Eastern Asia, Java 

 and the Himalayan Mountains, and some 

 of them natives of North-west and 

 South-east America. A variety known as 

 Hydrangea arborescens, is found grow- 

 ing wild on rocky banks from Northern 

 Pennsylvania to Illinois and southward. 

 One of the best and most popular varieties 

 for pot culture is the one represented in our 

 colored plate, viz : — 



Hydrangea Otaksa. — Nothing can 

 possibly be more beautiful as a decora- 

 tive plant onthe porch or verandah than one 

 or two of these plants, withitshuge tresses of 

 flesh colored flowers. These, in botanical 

 language, may be described as disposed 

 in large terminal, globose, leafless cymes. 

 The leaves of the plant are opposite and 

 deeply serrate. Where well-grown it reaches a height of about two and 

 a-half feet, and is hardier than some of the other varieties. This variety 

 was introduced from Japan in the year 1868. 



Culture. — The Hydrangea Otaksa may be easily propagated by 

 cuttings, and florists, therefore, often make them annually, and allow them 

 to produce one head of flowers each, and then throw them aside ; but, for 

 the amateur, a much better way is to grow it as a shrubby plant to bloom 

 for a number of years in succession. The culture is easy, and any one can 

 succeed by attending to a few simple particulars. The soil should be rich 

 and may be made of loam and decayed cow manure, in equal parts. One 

 very important particular is to give it plenty of water during the growing 



-Hydrangea Paniculata. 



