1*2 On Changing the Colour of the Hydrangea Hortensis. 
were the trusses of flowers any thing near so large as when free from 
it, and the colour was by no means a good blue. I next had re¬ 
course to a kind of peat-earth which appeared to contain a small portion 
of the oxide of iron; the plants in this grew very healthy, and bore 
large trusses of flowers—but these too were far from being of a good 
blue. Nevertheless, I am satisfied that when the soil can be obtained 
with a good portion of the oxide of iron, the flowers will be blue ; but 
as I found this to be a method on which a practical gardener could by 
no means permanently depend, I was very anxious to discover some¬ 
thing that would answer the desired end. All the means I made use of 
proved ineffectual, and I was forced, though reluctantly, to give up the 
experiment; but coming into the neighbourhood in which I now reside, 
I was much struck with the vigorous and healthy state of the Hydran¬ 
geas kept by the cottagers here : the flowers are of an exquisitely fine 
blue, and in size the trusses are surpassed by none 1 ever saw, and a 
particular friend of mine who had lived some years in the neighbour¬ 
hood, assured me, that every year they blow the same beautiful colour. 
The compost they are potted in, is common sandy loam^ mixed with 
about one third of fresh sheep's dung. A portion of the same dung is 
mixed with the water that is given to the plant, and I am informed that 
the young plants, which have been grown in all parts of the village, 
that have received this treatment, the same effects have been produced. 
As I have not hitherto, had an opportunity of proving the experiments 
myself, I beg leave to submit it to the notice of your readers, some of 
whom, may perhaps have used similar means. 
I am. Gentlemen, 
Yours’ &c. 
May '2Mh, 1831. Rusticus. 
Article IV.— Arboriculture. —On the Neglect of Forest 
Planting, in Great-Britain. By Quercus 
(tEXTLEMEX, 
I HAVE received 3 ^) 111 - circular, inclosing a prospectus of your 
contemplated Horticultural Register, and to j)rove to you that I am 
sincere in my washes for the success of your undertaking, 1 shall 
endeavour to comply w’ith the request wath w'hich the prospectus con¬ 
cludes. In doing so, I shall attempt to direct the attention of gardeners, 
and others, to the science of xVRiiORicuLTURE, a branch of rural eco¬ 
nomy, W'hich, in addition to their multifarious duties, gardeners are 
frequently required to superintendbut to w’hich, neither the}', nor 
persons, who as foresters undertake the management of w'ooded lauds, 
