TREES AND SHRUBS. 
395 
two others, as H. quercifolia and H. chinensis, but we do 
not regard them of sufficient merit to be dealt with in this 
work. H. hortensis is the well-known species so largely 
grown in pots in greenhouses, but often met with in the 
South and on the West coasts growing and flowering in the 
open air. This bears white flowers in large corymbs during 
the summer, and forms a bushy shrub 2 to 4ft. high and as 
much through. Its several varieties are superior to the type,, 
especially good being Lindleyi (Syn. japonica), with white, 
blue or red-tinted flowers ; Otaksa, flesh-coloured ; stellata, 
pink, rose, blue, or green tinted, double ; Thomas Hogg, 
white; Mariesii, pink and blue tinted, large; Mariesi Veitchi, 
pure white; and variegata, leaves blotched with white. To 
grow the foregoing well outdoors they must have a warm, shel- 
tered position, and a well-drained sandy loam. They are best 
planted in spring, and should be annually top-dressed with 
well-rotted manure. In winter, when the leaves have fallen, 
cut away the shoots that have borne flowers. In some soils, 
as on those of the Hastings Sands formation, which contain 
iron, the flowers frequently attain a charming blue tint. H. 
paniculata is of a more shrubby character of growth, and bears 
its flowers in large panicles a foot or more long at the ends of 
the current year’s shoots. It is the most showy of all the 
species and the most hardy also. Its variety grandiflora bears 
much larger clusters of flowers and is preferable to the type. 
This may be grown as a single specimen on the lawn, or in a 
mass in a bed. It requires a deep, rich loam plentifully mixed 
with rotten manure and liberal mulchings of rotten manure 
must also be given annually in winter. The current year’s 
shoots require to be annually pruned back to a couple of eyes 
in February. All weak shoots should be removed entirely, as 
it is only really strong growths that produce fine clusters of 
flowers. Plant in early spring. Hydrangeas produce two kinds 
of flowers, fertile and sterile, and it is the latter which are the 
largest and showiest. Watering the soil occasionally with a 
solution of alum and water, a tablespoonful to a gallon ; or a 
quarter-ounce of iron sulphate to a gallon of water, will some- 
times change the white-flowered kinds to a blue tint. Increased 
by cuttings of partially ripened shoots inserted in sandy soil 
in a cold shady frame in summer or early autumn. 
Hypericum (St. John’s Wort). — Hardy deciduous or ever- 
green flowering shrubs, belonging to the Nat. Ord. Hyperi- 
caceae). The best-known species is H. calycinum (St. John’s 
Wort). This grows about a foot high and bears large yellow 
flowers in summer. This is an excellent plant for covering 
bare spots under trees, massing in woodland gardens, or 
