HYT)nJXGi:A. 91 



dates its ways to places that are tuo eold foi- it, in just tlie 

 same way as the Fiiehsia. 



There is a ^'raiid hardv phiiit l^imwn as I l/fd finii/i'ii 

 ■paniciilafa , which is of somewhat wiry t;-row(h, and pro- 

 duces huge conical heads oF tlowers, tliid iii-c S(inn.^tiiiies pure 

 white, hut more often ting(Hl with ])inlc or purple. This 

 is siuiiewdiat of a novelt}', hut for all lliat a clicap thiiiij-, 

 everywhere ohtainable, and so aecomniodatino- tlial alinnsi 

 any soil will suit, it. But this hrings us to ilii' suhjcct 

 of soil for Indrangcas o'encralh', and the first thin;;' to he 

 said is that, in conmion willi a lai'yi' ]iropni'l mn of tliirsU' 

 plants, thev jn'cfer a fat sod : tliat is to say, a fei'liie loam, 

 and a cousidcraljle proportion of fat manure may he dug 

 in when a plot is prepared expressly i'or them. Planting 

 should be done in spring; lu'ilrangeas arc ni.)t lianh' enough 

 to be planted in autumn, but if planted in May, and 

 sheltered for a time, they will mak(.' a good root-Imld, and 

 establish themselves tirudy for the winter, anil liecomc 

 hardy occupants of the garden for any number of \'ears. 

 From the middle of June to the middle of August they may 

 have any amijunt of water, with alternations of weak liquid 

 manure. Indeed, in a porous soil the use of weak liquid 

 manure may Ijc continirous, Ijut the ojierator should kee]i 

 in mind that manure in excess of what a plant can absorb 

 becomes to it as poison. The word '^ assimilation " is the 

 key to the problem. 



The greenhouse culture of the hydrangea is very simple. 

 The best time to strike cuttings is in the summer, when the 

 shoots of the season will lie found to strike readily ^\'ith or 

 without the aid of bottom heat. The amateur who loves to 

 produce flowers in plenty, and is not conciaaied about rarities, 

 may be advised to make a special pet of the hydrangea, and 



