.:^.—:: 



10 



The 



*t,: 





Sbftembeb 6, 1012. 



diately ' came into great demand 

 thronghout the east. While several of 

 these sorts, particularly Mme. Emile 

 Mouillere, Bouquet Rose and General 

 de Vibraye, are, undoubtedly, tip-top 

 and deiiejrving of all the praise they 

 have received, I am confident there 

 are at least a dpzen other sorts, equally 

 meritorious and in sonre respects supe- 

 rior to them. 



Again, what might strike my fancy 

 in a variety might not appear in so 

 fair a light to another. For this rea- 

 son I am sure that time will show that 

 no mistake was made when the intro- 

 ducers gave us about twenty-five new 

 varieties at one time. It doep not cost 

 one miich. to try them all- and thus 

 become enabled to make one's own 

 selection. They are superior to Otaksa 

 and all" the older white varieties in 

 many respects, ■ particularly in being 

 more easily forced, having better color 

 and in. many, cases larger flowers. 



I have spoken of them altogether as 

 to their . adaptability to forcing. They 

 have, as , far as I know, not been 

 tested for . hardiness in comparison 

 with Otaksa. Such trials are now un- 

 der way,, and, if they prove their value 

 for outdoor bedding, they will indeed 

 be a revolution, _ 



Among the varieties that have come 



ous grower, easily forced, producing 

 great trusses of white flowers in pro- 

 fusion. In some respeots it is coarser 

 or less refined ,than sonie of the newer 

 white sorts, but I doubt if any other 

 white variety knowi) at this time can 

 surpass this in standing abuse and the 

 frequent slipshod, handling to which 

 hydrangeas are subjected: . i'"-. 



Bouquet Eose. ^^'^:~"^" 



One of the varieties that~IiavfPHad 

 one or two years' try-out in the New 

 York market. A free grower and 

 bloomer. The average truss- is^ not so 

 large as that of Otaksa, but, being much 

 more free in flowering, it makes a hand- 

 some, marketable plant in much smaller 

 size. I am satisfied from my oberva- 

 tions that if the center bud is pinched 

 out on this variety it will produce flow- 

 ers from branches of the flowering 

 stem. The Color is a btight pink. 1 

 am impelled to repeat here that the 

 matter of cojor is one of the most im- 

 portant features recommending these 

 new sorts. Please note I said the color 

 is bright pin^ If„y9ur soil produces 

 blue instead oi>^0Sk, the color will be 

 a strong, bright blue. 



• 'f '_ :h :. DeiiteUe^-^i^:|^i^> /;■ 

 The flowers of this reniiarkable vari- 



Hydraogea MUr. de Tremaiilt 



to our notice we would particularly 

 mention : 



.^ Avalanclie. ; 



This was "tne firtt big surprise. The i 

 old white ^rariety, Thomas Hogg, and 

 the newerSrSaine d'Arc, had been of 

 such comparatively mediocre value that 

 but few white hydrangeas were forced, 

 but in Avalanche we find almost every 

 desirable characteristic; a free, vigor- 



ety are deeply serrated or fringed. The 

 trusses are large, creamy white, pass- 

 ing to blush rose as the flower ages. 

 Our forcing trials of this variety have 

 not proven it satisfactory for that pur- 

 pose. The color was poor when forced 

 and the plant rather squatty. Plants 

 allowed to come along naturally, how- 

 ever, have made pretty summer, speci- 

 mens, and we feel that with proper 



treatment it may become a desirable 

 sort for other reasons than its distinct- 

 iveness in being so deeply fringed. 



Fraicheur. 



!^f .- 



Another sort which did not impress 

 us as desirable for forcing because of 

 uncertain color. It is, however, of ro- 

 bust habit and one of the free flower- 

 ing sorts. JFrom .noting it this summer 

 we believe it may become k desirable 

 sort for outdoor work. In' color it is 

 white suffused with rose. 



General de Vibraye. 



Another variety that has been suc- 

 cessfully forced for the New York mar- 

 ket. It seems in every way the equal 

 of Bouquet Bose, possessing the same 

 general characteristics. The same de- 

 scription will fit them both, although 

 the writer is not sure that side 

 branches of it will throw flowers, as in 

 the case of Bouquet B(»Sf^x 



La Lorraine."' 



»- ■■» 



This is truly a grand acquisition. It 

 is much of the type of Otaksa, but in 

 every way more refined. The foliage 

 is a dark green, prettily serrated. The 

 growth is free and vigorous; trusses 

 and florets large and graceful; color 

 pale rose, changing to pink; much 

 brighter than Otaksa, though not as 

 bright as Bouquet Rose and General de 

 Vibraye. Forces perfectly, but is 

 rather late. Entirely distinct and 

 meritorious. 



Mme. A. Biverain. 



This variety also seems to possess all 

 the excellent characteristics of Bouquet 

 Rose, but, according to our observa- 

 tions, bears larger trusses and is of a 

 brighter color. 



Mme. Emile Mouillere. 



This has sprung into popularity 

 wherever tried, and is today considered 

 by many the best white variety. It 

 was awarded a silver medal at the Na- 

 tional Flower Show in Boston. In 

 various notes of the International Hor- 

 ticultural Exhibition, held in London 

 recently, we find this variety men- 

 tioned time and time again. It is an 

 excellent, free flowering, vigorous 

 grower; forces easily and early. Bears 

 immense trusses with slightly fringed 

 florets. 



Mme. Maurice Hamar. 



Unusually free in growth and bloopi- 

 ing. Color a deep rose of a pleasing 

 shade. This was one of the most ad- 

 mired sorts in our forcing trials last 

 spring. Our plants were in soil th^t 

 produced blue flowers, and were a mass 

 of deep blue trusses. I believe it is 

 destined to become one of the most 

 popular. 



Mme. Baymond. 



A real .novelty. The ivory white 

 flowers are of good |ubstance and pro- 

 duced in trusses almd^t perfectly hemi- 

 spherical, the individual florets all 

 lying flatly on the surface to give the 

 whole truss this symmetrical appear- 

 ance. It is not early, but forces nicely, 

 and was considered the best white by 

 several competent judges. The. Na- 

 tional Association of Gardeners atward- 

 ed this variety a certificate at its 

 Philadelphia meeting. ' 



Mile. Agnes Barlllet. 



This was my favorite white variety 

 last year, and it still stands alone in 

 many respects, to such an extent that 







«- v^ *^-«./- . 



