66 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ March, 
The most beautiful specimen I ever saw was a plant of Hydrangea japonica 
about 4 ft. high, which I grew and exhibited at the Eoyal Botanic Garden, in 
London. It occurred to me that, if I could obtain a small quantity of the soil, 
I might still carry on the production of these blue plants, and I requested a friend 
to send me some. He accordingly started me off about a bushel, in a bag, having 
placed a plant with blue flowers on it, in the bag, and fllled the soil in among the 
branches. This was a novel way of packing a plant in flower, but it arrived 
safely, only a little dirty. I was very much pleased with my parcel, and, having 
some pink-flowered plants, I set about turning them blue, in the following 
manner:—I took them out of their pots (they were in full growth), and got away 
all the soil I could, without very much disturbing the roots. I then potted them 
in the new soil, and well puddled it in, so as to prevent them from flagging. They 
were kept close and warm for some time, till they recovered from the effects 
of this treatment, and were then left to flnish their growth and go to rest in the 
usual way. The next year they were started, I think, some time in February, 
and in the course of the summer they were the most admired objects of a 
wedding decoration. I kept some of the soil for future use, but got disappointed, 
as the next year it had lost its power so far that the colour was very pale indeed, 
and the third year I do not thmk we could distinguish them at all, except that 
the flowers were exceedingly fine as to size, and the plants in vigorous health. 
This failure I attributed to the soil having been so long dug up, that it had lost 
the properties which had formerly effected the change. If I am wrong in this 
supposition, perhaps some reader will kindly set me right. 
What I have stated about Colney Heath is, of course, no secret thereabouts. 
The most successful cultivator I am acquainted with, is Mr. Thrower, gardener at 
High Canons, near Barnet. He used to grow Hydrangeas with blue flowers in 
abundance, and, I have no doubt, would be exceedingly happy to answer any 
enquiries about their culture.— Jasper Standstill. 
THE LILY OF THE YALLEY. 
y^jHIS truly British plant, though one of the humblest members of our 
sylvan flora, holds notwithstanding a proud position in the category 
f of odoriferous flowers, from the grateful perfume exhaled by its tiny 
blossoms. Some sweet-scented flowers that I might name, are so heavily 
charged with perfume, that their odour is cloying and oppressive ; but it is not 
so with the Lily of the Valley, for its fragrance is admitted by the best judges 
to be superior in delicacy to that of any other flower which we possess, whether 
native or exotic. Let it therefore stand to the honour of Britain, that among 
all sweet-smelling flowers which she has imported, nothing has yet turned up 
more grateful than this lovely gem, which we mjiy proudly call our own. 
On making acquaintance with this plant, we find it has, deeply nestled in the 
bosom of its broad green leaves, naked spikes of pure white blossoms like silver 
