HYDRANGEA OTAKSA. 



A JAPAN 



The illustration is from a photograph of a plant 

 of Hydrangea Otaksa growing in the Cornell Uni- 

 versity conservatories. This plant is about six 

 years old, and at present occupies a i6-inch pot 

 and supports 46 flower clusters, the largest of which 

 are about eleven inches in diameter. The plant 

 measures 4 feet 7 inches in height and 5 feet 4 

 inches in diameter as staked up, which of course is 

 much less than it would measure if allowed to take 

 its own way. The plant has received only ordinary 

 care, the method of treatment being as follows : 

 When through blooming it is removed from the pot 

 and planted out in the garden, mulching the soil 

 around the plant. If the season is dry the plant 

 is watered occasionally. As soon as cold weather 

 sets in, it is taken up and potted, using a soil com- 

 posed of three parts turfy loam and one part de- 

 composed cow-manure. It is then placed in a cold 

 frame and watered occasionally, taking care not to 

 give too much. While in this situation give all the 

 air and sunshine possible, in order to procure 

 thoroughly ripened wood, which is absolutely essen- 

 tial to the best flowering qualities. 



;SE GEM. 



About January ist it is brought into the green- 

 house, where it has a night temperature of 50 de- 

 grees, and 10 degrees higher in the day time. It is 

 kept in this house until the flowers are well formed ; 

 then remove to a warmer house, receiving a tem- 

 perature of about 55 at night and 65 during the day. 

 It is then watered more freely and fertilized with 

 manure water twice a week. The plant needs to be 

 syringed twice or three times a week to keep down 

 red-spider. The green-fly bothers it sometimes, 

 but is easily kept in check by fumigating. Otherwise 

 it is a plant which is easily managed and ought to 

 be more extensi\'ely grown. 



.\s a decorative plant, it has few equals. It is 

 also particularly valuable for outside in summer if 

 wintered over in a cold frame or a cool cellar. It 

 is not only showy and attractive but remarkable for 

 the length of time during which it remains in flower. 



It is easily propagated by cuttings of the young 

 wood, preferably taken during February or March. 

 When rooted, place in small pots and shift to larger 

 ones, when these get full of roots. Put the plants 

 outside when the weather will permit. Plunge the 



