AMONG THE FLOWERS WITH REX FORD 



817 



H Y D R A N G E A S 



WE have in general cultivation two 

 classes of hydrangea. One hardy. 

 So much so that it will stand 

 the most severe Xorthern winter without 

 protection, and will grow wherever the 

 lilac will, and that is saying a great deal 

 for it, for we have come to consider the 

 lilac an iron-clad plant. This class is 

 chiefly represented by the variety cata- 

 logued and sold as H. paniculata grandi- 

 fiora. The other class has several repre- 

 sentatives, the most prominent of which 

 is otaksa. This is a Japanese variety, of 

 wonderful merit, popular with all who 

 undertake its cultivation, because of its 

 great fioriferousness, and, probably, the 

 favorite of all large-growing, shrubby 

 plants for porch and veranda decoration 

 during summer. Being too tender to with- 

 stand the rigor of our Xorthern winters, 

 it is necessary to house it from the cold 

 by giving it a place in the cellar or a cold- 

 storage building about the first of Novem- 

 ber. There are several varieties quite 

 similar in general habit, but this one 

 easily takes the lead. 



The hardy hydrangea is a shrub having 

 many merits. It grows well in any ordi- 

 nary soil, but in order to do itself justice 

 it should be given rich earth and encour- 

 aged to make vigorous development. When 

 properly fed and well cared for generally 

 it will grow to a height of six or seven 

 feet, with a proportionate spread of 

 branches from the ground up. As it 

 branches freely, and each branch as a gen- 

 eral thing bears a cluster of blossoms, the 

 effect produced by a well-grown specimen 

 is very ornamental, and especially so be- 

 cause of the enormous size of its flower 

 clusters. These are sometimes more than 

 a foot across, and often nearly that in 

 length. When they first open the flowers 

 are a creamy white. They afterward be- 

 come ivory in tint, and change toward 

 the last to a dull pink tinged with green. 

 They last for many weeks — indeed, until 

 the coming of winter. They appear in 



early September, therefore it will be read- 

 ily understood that in this shrub we have 

 one that is at its best during the late fall 

 when other shrubs are flowerless. This 

 habit of late . flowering is one of its chief 

 merits. 



It can be grown as a single specimen 

 with good effect if properly trained, but 

 it is most effective when grouped. Set 

 from half a dozen to a dozen plants to- 

 gether, according to the size of the space 

 you wish to fill, and you get from them a 

 great mass of foliage against which their 

 enormous clusters of bloom will be dis- 

 played most strikingly. In grouping this 

 shrub set the plants about two feet apart 

 each way. When they have begun to grow 

 cut away the greater share of the old top 

 and encourage them to push shoots from 

 the base. To grow them as standards 

 defeats the effect you aim at in grouping 

 them, to a great extent, as you want them 

 to branch low, and form a mass of 

 branches close to the ground. Every 

 spring go over the bushes and cut them 

 back well. Shorten every branch in order 

 to induce a vigorous new growth, upon 

 which you must depend for flowers. At 

 the same time manure the soil well, work- 

 ing it in well about the roots of the plants. 

 After plants become old it is a good plan 

 to remove nearly all the old branches and 

 let them renew themselves. This can be 

 done from time to time, and old bushes be 

 "made as vigorous as new ones. The roots 

 never seem to lose their vitality, therefore 

 they can be depended on to produce new 

 and healthy tops whenever there is a de- 

 mand for them. 



For hedges of an ornamental character 

 on the home grounds this plant deserves 

 especial notice. By pruning we can make 

 it compact and keep it of any size to suit 

 us. To make a good hedge of it set two 

 rows of plants eighteen inches apart, so 

 setting them that the plants do not come 

 opposite in the rows. Treat as advised for 

 groups, but prune more closely, unless yeu 



