PARK AND CEMRTE-RY 
395 
Hydrangea 
The Hydrangea Hortensia is one of the best known 
of old favorite plants. Since my boyhood days, now 
50 years ago, I have known of it as a common plant, 
sometimes as a hardy plant, at others as a greenhouse 
one, depending on what part of the world I was in. 
Then, of late years, the florists have taken hold of it 
as an Easter plant, growing it in pots not too large for 
the ever increasing customers who must have pot 
plants for that joyous occasion. 
In the vicinity of Philadelphia we are on the border 
land between the North and the South, and time and 
again do I find it to be the limit of endurance for many 
southern trees and shrubs, such as the Sweet Gum, 
Willow Oak, Magnolia grandiflora and Quercus fal- 
cata, all but the Magnolia being indigenous here, and 
extending north but little further. In the same way 
many Japanese plants live out with us, especially when 
a little sheltered. I have thought an illustration of 
the Hydrangea Hortensia as a hardy plant here would 
interest many and prove its hardiness. The specimen 
is growing in Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, and 
has had no protection whatever the previous winter, 
save what its position gave it. As will be seen, it has 
a wall behind it, which is on the south side. This is in 
its favor, as it is well known that shade from the sun 
in winter is a great help to plants of its half "hardy 
nature. It is only one of a great many in this ceme- 
tery. The cemetery is situated on a considerable ele- 
vation, ensuring well ripened wood. Then the many 
terraces, monuments and enclosures break the wind 
and often the sunlight from the plants, giving them a 
better chance to preserve their shoots unhurt till spring 
than they would have elsewhere. That the shoots of 
the one illustrated were not hurt the flowers show. 
Hortensia. 
for if frozen to the ground it will grow vigorously 
from the base, but it will not flower. There must be 
some of the last season’s shoots to produce flowers. 
A singular circumstance connected with these out- 
door hydrangeas is that they all produce blue flow- 
HYDRANGEA HORTENSIA, BLUE FLOWERED. 
ers. The one in the picture is as blue as it can be, as 
is every one in the cemetery and elsewhere when grow- 
ing outdoors permanently. Just what does it I cannot 
say. We use the same soil for plants in tubs, but they 
keep the normal pink color as a rule — a few may be 
blue, but plant them out, and every one comes blue. 
Joseph Meehan. 
Tliomas Meelian Horticultural Societ>'. 
The employes of Thomas Meehan & Sons, Inc., who, 
for some time have been studying botany at the nursery 
office, formally organized a horticultural society on 
Tuesday, Sept. i6th, 1902. Constitution and by-laws 
were drawn up and adopted. The society will be 
known as the Thomas Meehan Horticultural Society, 
so named in honor of the late Thomas Meehan, one 
of the eminent botanists of his day. 
Mr. S. Mendelson Meehan was nominated for the 
presidency, but declined, saying that inasmuch as the 
society was for employes exclusively, it would only be 
proper for the offices to be filled and the society gov- 
erned entirely by them. He spoke highly of the out- 
look for a successful society and assured the members 
that he would take the keenest interest in the welfare 
of the organization. The following officers were 
elected : Robert B. Cridland, President ; Ernest Hem- 
ming, Vice-President, and S. Newman Baxter, Sec- 
retary-T reasurer. 
Mr. J. Franklin Meehan defined the constituents of 
a successful horticultural society and gave some excel- 
lent practical advice as to methods of procedure. Mr. 
S. Mendelson Meehan spoke in a very interesting 
manner on the Gordonia pubescens, commenting upon 
its relationship to the Stiiartia and telling of its discov- 
ery along the Alatamaha river by the late John Bar- 
tram. 
This is the only society, so far as known, of its 
kind. It is for the employes exclusively, but all are 
eligible, from the boys who pull weeds to the oldest 
veteran. All who seek knowledge are invited to at- 
tend the meetings where the combined practical knowl- 
edge of men versed in their respective departments 
affords unexcelled opportunities for progress. 
