430 



The century book of ga^ )ening. 



there are many varieties in cultivation. They are 

 particularly valuable from the fact that the flowering 

 season is during August and into September, at which 

 time few shrubs are in bloom. This Hibiscus prefers a 

 sunny spot and a fairly deep moist loam, for if too dry 

 the foliage becomes disfigured before the flowering 

 season. Seeds ripen from which young plants can be 

 easily raised, but the particular varieties cannot be 

 increased in this way. They can be propagited from 

 cuttings about ift. long, taken in the winter 

 and put firmly into san ly soil in a sheltered spot 

 in the open ground, tw (-thirds of the culling being 

 burie 1 in the soil, or thev may be taken in July, put in 

 pots in a frame, and kept close and shaded till rooted, 

 which will be in about six weeks. For this treatment 

 the cuttings need not be more than half the length of 

 those put in the open ground. A selection o varieties is 

 herewith given. With single flowers — Caelestis, blue : 

 Carneus, pink ; Albus, white, crimson blotch at the base of 

 the petals ; Roseus striatus, pink striped ; Totus albus, 

 pure white. With double flowers — Albus plenus, white ; 

 Amaranthe, reddish violet ; Bicolor hybridus, light pink ; 

 Carneus plenus, pink ; Due de Brabant, reddish purple ; 

 Coccineus plenus, re 1 : Lady Stanley, salmon rose ; 

 Puniceus plenus, carmine red; Purpureus variegatus, 

 purple, leaves margined white. Totus albas is one of 

 the most beautiful of this series. 

 Hickory Nut. — See Curya. 



Hippophse PhamnoideS (Sea Buckthorn).— A first-rale 

 shrub tor seaside planting, but at the same time it does 

 equally well inland. Ii forms a fair-sized bush from 6ft. 

 to i oft. in height, clothed with Willow-like leaves of a 

 silvery whiteness underneath. Tne berries, which are 

 crowded round the sho its for nearly a foot, are ab »ut the 

 size of peas, and of a bright orange tint. Daring the 

 latter part ol the autumn and in winter this Hippophce 

 is one of the brightest of our shrubs. The male and 

 female flowers arc borne on separate plants, hence lo 

 ensure the production of berries b >th sexes must be 

 represented. One mile pi ml to a dozen females will be 

 suffi ient. It is well suited lor planting near the water, 

 as it prefer^ a cool moist soil. This Hippoph ecan be 

 raise 1 from seels, which sh mid be sown in the spring 

 in pans or boxes anil placed in a frame. 



Honey Locust. — Sie (He litschia. 



Hornbeam. — Sec Carpinus. 



Horse Chestnut, The.— See .E :u hts. 



Hydrangea. — This is a sumptuous group of shrubs, with 

 noble flower heads, which make brilliant pictures in the 

 gmlen. In the southern counties of England, Devon- 

 shire and C irnwall in particular, the plants luxuriate, and 

 daring the flowering season are very handsome. In some 

 Cornish gardens the plants form quite leafy hedges, 

 whilst in the South of Ireland also thev are very 

 beautiful ; in leed, in many seacoast gardens Hydrangeas 

 attain greU luxuriance. Of course, a protected position 

 should always be ch isen, as in no other wou'd it 

 be safe to trust them in our climate. A great point is 

 to prune moderately hard, as only in this way can strong 

 wood be expected. The Hydrangea family is nor well 

 known, except of course in the case of the ordinary 

 It. Hortensia, but besides this species there are other 

 handsome kinds. 



H. Hortensia, or, as it is sometimes erroneously called, 

 Hortensis, is the principal species, and of this there are 

 several varieties. A. acuminata is interesting, as the 

 flowers vary considei-ably in colour, those of a blue shade 

 being of considerable beauty. Otaksa has delicate pink 

 flowers and very handsome rich green foliage, Thomas 

 Hogg white, and Stellata blue or of a pinkish shade, 

 whilst they are double in form. Lindleyi is an interesting 

 variety also. The varieties of this species given in the 

 Kew hand list consist of Acuminata, Lindleyi, nigra, 

 stellata, and variegata. 



H. panieulata grandiflora. — This is more shrub-like 

 than the preceding, an 1 rerches a height of 4ft. to 6ft. 

 The massive pyramidal-shaped heads of creamv white 

 blossoms are borne in July and August, at which time 



thev are particul irly valuable. After being open some 

 little time the flowers become more or less suffused with 

 pink. This is one of the most handsome of all garden 

 shrubs, forming a leafy noble group on the outskirts of 

 the lawn ; indeed, it must n it lie crowded with other 

 shrubs, but left to create a bold effect. In some soils the 

 flower trusses are of huge size, but to produce anything 

 like a good result the soil must be well manured, and 

 during the winter receive a liberal mulch. A very 

 important point is to cut the stems hard down each 

 winter. Unless this be done, satisfactory flowers will 

 never be produced. 

 H. quereifolia, or the Oak leaved Hydrangea, is a shrub 

 that must not be passed over, as the flowers are pleasing 

 in colour and the leaves handsome. This will grow with 

 great vigour in gardens by the sea. 



Other species of interest are H. petiolaris, H. pubescens, 

 H. radiata and its variety canescens, H. Thunbergi, and 

 H. vestita. 



In many gardens the flowers of H. Hortensia frequently 

 assume a rich bluish shade, and when seen in the subdued 

 light of the woodland this colour is wonderfully effective. 

 Probably t lie blue shades arise from the shrubs being in a 

 soil containing much iron. A correspondent to Le Jardin 

 writes thus: "Everybody knows and admires the blue 

 Hydrangea, but what is still not well known is how to 

 produce the blue flowers. In the way of mixtures what 

 has not been tried in order to impart this blue to the 

 flowers of Hydrangeas — -.oils obtained from slate quarries, 

 powdered slate, ferruginous soils, sulphate of iron, etc. — 

 in a word, a heap of materials and ingredients not always 

 at hand nor easy to procure. The compost which I 

 recommend is, on the contrary, wdthin the reach of every- 

 one, and it simply consists in the use of coal cinders. 

 The mixtuie which I have used for live years to impart 

 the blue colour to the flowers of my Hydrangeas is one- 

 third peat soil, one-third leaf compost, and one-third coal 

 cinders."' Callings of the Hydrangeas formed of the 

 young growin ; shoots taken any time during the summer 

 will root readily enough in a close frame. 



Hypericum (St. folia's Worts). — This is a large family, 

 through all of w hich runs a strong likeness, the flowers of 

 the entire set, both species and varieties, being yellow. 

 Thev will grow well in any ordinary garden soil, and 

 flower, as a rule, during the latter part of the summer. 

 Cutlings of the growing shoots put in a frame soon root, 

 while many of them produce seeds freely, which should 

 be sown when ripe. A few of the best are : 



H. AndPOSZem.im (the Tutsan). — A shrub about lyd. 

 high, with flowers borne in flattened clusters throughout 

 the summer m inths. Its beautiful foliage ana fruits are 

 of ni! ire account, however, than the flowers, which give 

 rise to berries of an almost black colour, each about the 

 size of a pea. 



H. aureum. — This is a little-known species, growing to a 

 height of about 4ft. , with leathery leaves and orange 

 yellow flowers, conspicuous for their clusters of stamens ; 

 thev appear about the end of July. 



H. ealycinum (Ross of Sharon). — A plant of prostrate 

 growth, reaching a height of about I ft., with beautiful 

 golden flowers over 3m. in diameter. It does well under 

 the shade and drip of trees. This is unquestionably the 

 most thoroughly useful of the whole family, formin r 

 excellent covert and growing where few other shrubs will 

 thrive, such as in the shade of trees ; it forms a dense 

 groundwork, and has become naturalised in some places. 



H. Hookeriana. — This is an Hypericum one seldom sees 

 in gardens, notwithstanding its beauty. It is of rather 

 tall growth, and the golden-coloured flowers are quite 

 2in. across, whilst they appear until the autumn. Even 

 when other Hypericums have ceased to bloom this con- 

 tinues to expand its blossoms, which are sufficiently 

 attractive to gather for indoor decoration. A small bed 

 of it on the lawn is a pretty sight. H. oblongifolium is 

 another name for it. 



H. patulum. — This Japanese species is a graceful little 

 bush about iSin. high, with a great profusion of flowers. 

 The hybrid between H. patulum anJ H. ealycinum, known 



