By Mr. William Hedges. 



177 



in the spring, they may be retained in pots ; but they must 

 be shifted twice during the summer. By either method 

 fine strong plants will be formed, fit for forcing or turning 

 out in the succeeding spring. If wanted for the borders, let 

 them be put out when all danger of their sustaining injury 

 by frost is over ; they will stand the winter in the borders, 

 and will also bear flowers, though not so well as when pro- 

 tected by a house. Those which are to flower in pots, are 

 taken as soon as their buds begin to swell in the spring, all 

 the old mould being removed from their roots, they are 

 planted in fresh earth, in pots of about eight inches diameter 

 at top, and placed in front of the green-house or peach- 

 house ; if the plants are not over large, pots of smaller di- 

 mensions should be used ; these will come into flower in 

 June. 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 the pots, to secure a continual supply 

 of moisture. If it is desired to have plants in flower early in 

 the spring, they must be shifted into their new pots in Ja- 

 nuary, and brought foward 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 they are 

 expected to blow blue, they must be planted in the pure 

 yellow loam. 



