32 



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The Florists^ Review 



APBIL 20. 1922 



Hydrangea E. G. ^U. 



good compost, eoutaiuiiig womo bone 

 meal nnrl old cow manure. They are 

 kept in shade and syringed occasion- 

 ally until root action is resumed; then 

 they are placed in a sunny spot where 

 they can lie easily protected from lieavy 

 rains and sharp frosts. Until estab- 

 lished in the pots, they are watered 

 freely; then the water supply is grad- 

 ually reduced. The great object, be it 

 noted, is to insure a strong growth in 

 summer and well ripened, nutty-brown 

 wood in autumn. Before the arrival of 

 severe frosts, the plants are placed in a 

 cool greenhouse. 



Plunged in the Frame. 



Having been thus treated, the field- 

 grown plants are awaiting the proper 

 time for the renewal of their active 

 growth. Now to return to spring and 

 to the little plants that are intended 

 to be pot-grown all summer. The re- 

 moval of these from the greenhouse is 

 deferred until sometime in June, so as 



to i)ermit time to shift them to good- 

 sized pots before placing them in the 

 frame for the summer. In the frame 

 they are plunged to the rims in coal 

 ashes or porous soil, where they are 

 protected by lath shades from the di- 

 rect rays of the sun. During the sum- 

 mer the growth of the plants is en- 

 couraged by liberal watering and occa- 

 sional applications of fertilizer. As au- 

 tumn approaches, however, and the 

 plants naturally tend toward maturity 

 and semi-dormancy, the water supply is 

 reduced accordingly. When severe 

 frosts threaten, the plants are placed 

 in a cool greenhouse, as in the case of 

 the field-grown plants. 



Thus the field-grown and the pot- 

 grown plants have arrived, by their dif- 

 ferent routes, at the same point in their 

 progress. 



Beady for Flowering. 



Any time after the middle of Decem- 

 ber — about Christmas or not later than 



the first few days of the new year — the 

 plants are initiated into their final 

 stage of developttient, which will cul- 

 minate in spring flowering. As a pre- 

 paratory measure, it is well to remove 

 the plants from the pots, detach a lit- 

 tle of the soil from the roots and repot 

 in fresh compost. As already intimated, 

 hydrangeas enjoy a rich, live soil, such 

 as good loam and decayed cow manure 

 in equal parts, but fresh manure does 

 not agree with them. 



For the first gentle forcing, a tem- 

 perature of 45 to 50 degrees is sufficient. 

 As growth becomes more vigorous, the 

 temperature is gradually raised to 60 

 degrees. This temperature should not 

 be greatly exceeded, for overforcing 

 produces soft growth, with weak- 

 stemmed flowers that will not last. Un- 

 til active growth starts, the plants are 

 watered only moderately, though they 

 may be sprayed freely. But after they 

 are well rooted they receive an abun- 

 dance of water, with weak applications 

 of liquid cow or sheep manure, or top- 

 dressings of fine bone, about once a 

 week from the time the flower heads 

 show until they begin to change color. 

 As soon as the flowers show their nat- 

 ural color, however, the use of the bone 

 or liquid manure should stop. 



Some Finishing Touches. 



French hydrangeas, as their flower 

 heads are somewhat softer than those 

 of H. otaksa, need a little shade in order 

 to be free from danger of burning. 

 After the flowers are almost developed, 

 they should be hardened off in a slightly 

 cooler temperature, in preparation for 

 the market. 



Since hydrangeas are specially fond 

 of moisture, overwatering them would 

 seem to be the most improbable of mis- 

 takes. Yet it is just possible that some 

 novice, by keeping their roots exces- 

 sively and continuously wet, might cre- 

 ate that sourness of the soil which re- 

 sults in yellow foliage. If, in spite of 

 the most judicious watering, the leaves 

 assume too pale a hue, the right color 

 may be restored by means of a little 

 soot water or a weak application of ni- 

 trate of soda. 



Though comparatively free from 

 pests in general, hydrangeas are subject 

 to attacks from green fly, which should 



Mui)'. K. Moiiill(>re. 



Radiant. 



French Hydrangeas, Less Than a Year Old, Flowered in fe-inch Pots for an Early Easter. 



