HYDRANGEA. 



195 



HYDRANGEA. 



In private gardens hydrangeas are not nearly so extensively cultivated as they are 

 for the markets, more especially Covent Garden, but they ought not to be so neglected. 

 The large globular flower-heads of the most popular species, H. hortensis, may be 

 somewhat heavy in appearance, but they last for a long time, and when the colour is 

 blue instead of pink, the effect is considerably enhanced. H. hortensis, or the Common 

 Hydrangea, is a native of China, and proves to be quite hardy in some parts of England. 

 The colour varies from pink to blue shades according to the soil the plants are rooting 

 in, and the flowering season extends from April to September inclusive. H. japonica, 

 casrulescens, rosea alba, stellata prolifera, Thomas Hogg, and variegata, are varieties 

 of H. hortensis, the one with variegated leaves when these are fresh being very 

 beautiful. H. paniculata grandiflora, from Japan, produces large branching spikes 

 of white flowers in the summer, and is well worthy of pot culture. 



Although H. hortensis develops, in the course of a few years, into large bushes 

 producing dozens of flower-heads each season, by far the greater majority of plants are 

 thrown away after having given one large corymb of bloom. There are two methods of 

 raising plants that shall give a single head of flowers, both of which answer well. The 

 dwarfest plants are had by rooting strong, well- matured tops, inserting them singly in 

 small pots in August, and plunging them in brisk bottom heat, but keeping the frame in 

 which they are plunged moderately cool. The end in view should be to induce the 

 cuttings to form strong roots, and not to burst into top growth. When they have well 

 filled the pots with roots, expose these little plants to the full light, air, and sun. After 

 the leaves fade and fall, give only enough water to keep the wood plump. Winter them 

 on a cool greenhouse shelf. In February shift these sturdy little plants into 5-inch or 

 6 -inch pots, using a rich loamy compost, and start them into growth in a moist heat. 

 All that are sufficiently strong will soon show a flower-head, this rapidly attaining to a 

 great size, also colouring well in a light position, in gentle heat. In this way plants not 

 more than 1 foot high can be had with flower-heads almost as much in diameter. Those 

 which give no signs of flowering after four or five leaves have developed are usually 

 thrown away. 



The other method consists in converting strong, young, flowerless shoots into cuttings 

 in the spring. These inserted singly in small pots, root quickly in brisk heat. After 

 the well-rooted plants have been shifted into either 5-inch or 6-inch pots, they are grown 



