98 
THE FLORIST AND POxVlOLOGIST. 
trenches will be ready for planting. The depth of the trenches must be regu¬ 
lated by the quantity of manure ; when finished for planting, 3 inches below 
the surface level is quite enough. It is a mistake to have them so very deep, 
as is often practised. 
The operator, having thus prepared his trenches in good time, will be able 
to seize the first opportunity when his plants are ready to get them planted 
out, which should be done as soon as the foliage meets, and before the plants 
can be drawn up by crowding. In planting take up the plants with a large 
ball, which the sandy bottom of the bed will much facilitate, and plant them in 
the trenches with a trowel, 9 inches apart for ordinary purposes, but for extra 
fine a foot is not too much. Let them be well supplied with water, and now 
and then a dose of liquid manure, and sometimes a handful of salt put in the 
water. 
When earthing-up is commenced, which should not be until the plants have 
attained a good size, the practice of pushing the soil against the plants in the 
form of a little ridge cannot be too much deprecated, because it is calculated 
to throw off all the water from the roots, and at that period of growth they 
still require a good supply. A better practice is for the operator to take his 
soil a foot away from the plants in the row, and lay it against the plants in 
such a way that, when finished, the top will be level instead of sloping. At 
the final earthing, however, this ridge-like form will be necessary for the 
purpose of throwing off the rains during the winter season. 
John Cox. 
THE CULTURE OF THE HYDRANGEA HORTENSIS. 
This beautiful plant is not sufficiently hardy to stand our winters. In 
Ireland and along the south coast of England it flourishes well without any 
protection, and attains the size of a large bush, forming a noble object when 
covered with fine heads of its grand flowers. 
Its merits as a conservatory and in-door decorative plant are such as will 
always secure for it a place under glass in most gardens. It bears forcing w r ell 
and can be had in very fine flower in April. The flowers last a very consider¬ 
able time, so that any person with a few plants and a little management may 
have a succession of these truly beautiful flowers from April till October. A 
few remarks on its culture may not be altogether unacceptable. 
It is very readily increased by cuttings of the young wood, which root 
very freely in a little bottom heat. Small plants, when properly managed, 
produce very large heads of flowers. Old bushy plants that have a number of 
shoots never produce such large heads of flowers as small plants that produce 
only one head of flowers each. If it be desirable to grow small plants for their 
large heads of flowers, they must be struck from cuttings every year. The 
present is a good time to put in cuttings. I generally get as strong cuttings 
as I can, and when prepared I put them into small pots, one in a pot, and then 
place them in a nice close heat. In a short time they will all be rooted and 
fit for a shift into a larger-sized pot. The strongest I shift into small 48-sized 
pots, and the weakest into large 60’s, using nothing but strong loam. The plants 
are then placed in a cold pit, which is kept rather close until they begin to 
root into the fresh soil, when air should be given, very freely, and the plants 
watered when necessary. In about three or four weeks’ time the plants will 
require another shift. The largest I put into 24-sized pots, and the smallest 
into 32-sized pots. They are again returned to the cold pit, and are regularly 
attended to with water, giving them all the light and air possible. About the 
