THE FLOWER GROWERS GUIDE. 



as strongly and sturdily as possible in frames, exposing them to the full sunshine and air 

 during the summer and autumn. Plump, terminal buds then form, fine heads of flowers 

 developing during the following spring or summer. These plants may be wintered in a 

 frame, pit, or cool greenhouse. 



After they are started into activity the following spring, keep them uniformly moist 

 at the roots ; and as growth advances feed liberally with clear liquid manure. These 

 single-stemmed plants may either be cut down after flowering and converted into bushes, 

 or thrown away. 



The small, pure white-flowered variety, Thomas Hogg, is best grown as a neat bush, 

 every moderately strong growth forming on a plant in one summer flowering the 

 following year. Large bush plants wholly cut down after flowering, will not flower 

 during the next season. Only those shoots that have grown strongly throughout the 

 summer will flower the following year. When pruning large specimens, therefore, only 

 cut down the growths which have flowered, leaving the rest to flower during the next 

 season, or have two sets of plants, cutting those which have flowered entirely down, and 

 allow them a year to make fresh flowering growths. 



The natural colour of H. hortensis is pink, but this can be changed to a bright blue 

 by the use of certain constituents in the soil when potting, or by applications of 

 chemicals when watering. Loam naturally impregnated with iron changes the colour of 

 the flowers, as also do iron filings mixed at the rate of one part to every five parts of 

 loam. A very light sprinkling of powdered sulphate of iron added to the potting soil 

 has a similar effect. Alum dissolved at the rate of one tablespoonful in a gallon of 

 water, letting it stand for twelve hours, and applied twice a week, has been found in 

 some instances to change the flowers to a blue shade. 



Autumn raised and duly rested plants of H. hortensis variegata, started into growth 

 in heat in February, come beautifully variegated, but lose much of their attractiveness 

 when in flower. Hydrangeas generally require a sound, rich, loamy compost, and liberal 

 treatment at the roots during the time they are growing. 



H. paniculata grandiflora (Fig. 94) is very distinct from H. hortensis, and needs 

 different treatment. Cuttings of firm young wood may be rooted whenever they can be 

 obtained, and the plants should be grown strongly. No topping ought to be done 

 after two or three strong shoots are formed. The plants may either be grown in 

 pots plunged in the open, or planted out in good ground. The species is quite hardy, 

 and strong plants may be lifted and established in pots for forcing or flowering in a 



