52 
HYDRANGEA. 
long-jointed, almost scandent character, with medium-sized leaves, 
and scarcely any thorns ; while in a cool dry atmosphere it be¬ 
comes almost rigid, its branches ramifying in a decumbent manner, 
the leaves small, and the older portion of the stem and its branches 
set with sharp spines. Treated either way, however, it flowers 
equally profuse, and the lovely bright blue tint which distin¬ 
guishes its blossoms must be universally admired. 
The management of this plant and that proper for the Cuphea 
is so precisely similar that we need not occupy further space in 
its repetition ; only it may be well to mention that a few rough 
stones placed so as to cover the ground beneath the spreading 
branches of the Hydrolea, when placed in the open borders, has 
been found highly beneficial, on account of the constant regular 
supply of moisture thus afforded the roots, without the risk of 
excess in any shape, and by the refraction of the sun’s rays from 
the surfaces of the stones inducing a somewhat higher temperature 
among the branches of the plant. 
The genus Cuphea was founded by Jacquin ; the name is de¬ 
rived from Jcuphos, curved, in allusion to the bent capsule. It is 
included in the natural order Lythracece and Dodecandria Mono- 
gynia of Linnaeus. It contains sixteen or seventeen species, the 
earliest introduction occurring in 1776. Hydrolea is a Linnaean 
genus, and the type of a small but beautiful order, Hydroleacece. 
It contains but two species, and in the sexual arrangement occu¬ 
pies a place in Jdentandria JDigynia . 
HYDRANGEA. 
Common as are these plants, it is strange that so many cases 
of failure should be observable every season to those who, feel¬ 
ing an interest in the plant, are led to make particular inquiries 
respecting it. That the non-production of flowers is traceable to 
any inherent disqualification of the plant cannot be admitted, for 
no plant possesses greater vital powers or a stronger propensity 
to bloom than does the Hydrangea, as witness its appearance 
when placed in good soil in the open air and left to itself. The 
artificial conditions under which the plant is placed in the ordi- 
