A New Hydrangea. 
Since the introduction of Hydrangea Hor- 
tensia from China a marked improvement 
has taken place in this genus of flowering 
been introduced from time to time. 
This season there is offered a new and 
valuable acquisition to the list that will 
undoubtedly attract much admiration. H. 
greater circumference and size of the truss. 
Our illustration is that of a one year old 
plant and shows its profuse bloom and val- 
uable merit of producing a fine flower head 
Hydrangea Ramitlcs Cocinea, or Red-branched Hydrangea. 
shrubs. H. Hortensia has been superceded 
by H. Otaksa, a better grower and more 
profuse bloomer. Not long since, H. pani- 
culata grandiflora was introduced from 
Japan and has taken its place as one of the 
finest hardy shrubs we have for outdoor 
cultivation. Various other fine sorts such as 
H. H. rosea, H, stellata prolifer a, etc., have 
ramulus cor tinea is quite distinct from all 
others in that the foliage stems are of a 
dark purplish hue while the flowering 
branches are of a dark crimson shading to- 
wards the heads to a bright transparent 
red, from which fact it has been called 
“Red -branched. ’’ It differs also from oth- 
ers in the size of the florets and in the 
Pig. 276. 
upon every shoot. It is remarkable for its 
large and free blooming. The color of the 
flowers is a clear, bright rose which it re- 
tains, when forced under glass, to a much 
greater extent than does either H. Otaksa 
or H. Hortensia , which renders it especially 
desirable to florists for forcing. Its habit 
of growth is_low and branching. 
