APRIL. 



65 



can be protected from wet and frost. During the 

 winter they must be watered once a week, or fort- 

 night, as they may require. In the latter end of 

 May, or early in June following, they should be 

 turned out into a bed of rich mould in the open 

 ground, to remain there until September, when 

 they are to be taken up and potted, and kept 

 from cold and wet during the winter. Instead 

 of turning them out, as in the preceding spring, 

 they must remain in the pots ; but they must 

 be shifted twice during the summer. By either 

 of these methods, fine strong plants will be 

 formed for forcing or turning out the ensuing 

 spring. 



Care must be taken to supply them plentifully 

 with water whilst they are coming into bloom, and 

 it is best to place water-pans under them, to secure 

 a continual supply of moisture, when intended to 

 have them brought forward with forcing heat. 



The mould I generally give to my hydrangeas is 

 a compost of loam and bog earth, or leaf mould, 

 with a little sand, well incorporated together. In 

 this they will produce red flowers. If it is de- 

 sired to have the blossoms blue, they should be 

 planted in pure yellow loam. When the plants 

 are repotted, remove part of the old soil, and re- 

 pot in pots proportionate to the size of the 

 plants. This should be done in January, and if 



