hydrope'ltis. 



149 



hype'rtcum. 



come unsightly from losing their leaves 

 near the base. 



Blue Hydrangeas are very much 

 admired, partly, perhaps, from the 

 difficulty of obtaining them, for no 

 plants can be more capricious. Some- 

 times they come without any trouble at 

 all; sometimes applying any one of the 

 numerous recipes recommended will 

 change the colour, either directly or 

 gradually ; and sometimes no care, 

 and no recipe has the slightest effect, 

 and the flowers remain pink in spite of 

 all that can be done to turn them blue. 

 Water impregnated with alum, steel- 

 filings, sheep's dung, wood-ashes, peat- 

 ashes, nitre, carbonate of soda, or 

 common salt, are all recommended, 

 and all succeed — sometimes. The 

 flowers are sometimes turned blue by 

 removing the plants to a loamy soil, 

 and sometimes by planting them in 

 peat. It is generally allowed that 

 the fine yellow loam found in some 

 parts of Hampstead and Stanmore 

 Heaths, and the peat of Wimbledon 

 Common, are sure to produce the de- 

 sired effect ; as is also the peat of the 

 bogs near Edinburgh, and that of the 

 neighbourhood of Berlin and St. Pe- 

 ter sburgh ; but these soils are not al- 

 ways to be procured when wanted. 

 Water in which tan has been steeped 

 is also very often successful; though, 

 like the other recipes, it cannot al- 

 ways be depended on. 



Hydro'charis. — Hydrocharideas. 

 Frogbit. A pretty little British wa- 

 ter-plant, with white flowers. 



Hydrastis. — Ranunculacea. — 

 Yellow root. A tuberous rooted 

 North American plant, which requires 

 a rich moist soil, and is increased by 

 dividing the root. 



Hydrope'ltis. — Hydropeltidece. 

 — A North American water-plant, 

 with large round pinkish leaves, and 

 small purplish flowers. Like the 



Water Lily, this plant closes its petals 

 at night, and sinks below the surface 

 of the water, to rise and open again 

 the next morning. 



Hydrophy'llum. — Hydrophyl- 

 leas. — Water Leaf. So called because 

 the leaves curl up so as to hold water. 

 The plant is a hardy perennial, which 

 will grow in any light soil, and which 

 is easily increased by suckers from 

 the roots. 



Hydropi / per. — Water Pepper. See 

 Polygonum. 



Hyoscy^amus. — Solanacecs. — 

 Henbane. The annual kinds are 

 quite hardy and will grow anywhere, 

 but they prefer a soil that is rich and 

 light. The English kinds are gene- 

 rally found on old dunghills, or heap6 

 of mould from decayed vegetables. 

 The perennials also prefer a light and 

 rich, and yet deep soil ; and they are 

 increased by dividing the roots. 



Hype'ricum — Hypericacece. — St. 

 John's Wort. The pretty yellow- 

 flowered shrubs and herbaceous per- 

 ennials known by this name at the 

 present day, were formerly in high 

 repute for driving away evil spirits; 

 and on this account were generally 

 planted near dwelling-houses. They 

 were also highly valued for their me- 

 dicinal properties, being believed to 

 have a powerful effect in stopping 

 blood and healing wounds. The most 

 common kind, the Tutsan, or Park 

 Leaves, is now made into another 

 genus, under the name of Andro- 

 ssenum ; but the botanical distinction 

 is very trifling. All the kinds will 

 thrive under the drip of trees ; and 

 they will grow in any soil and situa- 

 tion, though they prefer moisture and 

 the shade. They are found in almost 

 all the temperate climates of the 

 world ; and they are propagated by 

 seeds, and by dividing the roots. 



