CULTURE OF HYDRANGEA. 
153 
Hydrangea hortensis, one of the easiest managed half hardy plants 
in our collections. The plants under my care were raised from 
cuttings put into stocking-pots about the beginning of May, 1839. 
The pots, open twenty-fours, were half filled with crocks, over 
which the pots were filled up with light sandy loam. Six or eight 
cuttings, prepared in the usual manner, were dibbled in, watered, 
and placed in a mild hot-bed, where they were kept shaded from 
bright sunshine, and rather moist. In less than a month, the 
cuttings were fit to be put singly into sixty-sized pots, and 
replaced in the frame, where they were duly watered and gradually 
allowed a larger share of air. The plants grew healthily, 
and, in September, were re-potted into forty-eights, and the 
strongest into thirty-twos ; and removed out of the frame to an 
open but shady spot. Soon after this the plants were set close 
under a south wall, in order that the shoots might be thoroughly 
ripened before the end of October, when they were taken into the 
greenhouse for the winter, and there watered sparingly. 
I was desirous of having some of them with blue flowers ; and 
when they were potted for the last time, I used different kinds of 
compost for that purpose. Some were potted with the usual 
mixture for greenhouse plants, namely, light loam, peat earth, 
leaf-mould, and white sand. Others were placed in pure mellow 
loam ; some in pure peat; for others a red-coloured sand was 
mixed with the peat; and for a few a blackish kind of strong loam 
was employed. 
The results, as presented this year, have not been uniform ; as 
some blue flowers have been produced from several of the com¬ 
posts ; but mostly, I think, from the peat and red-coloured sand. 
Now, my petition to you is, to explain to us the cause of colour in 
general; and, particularly, what is that quality existing in soils 
which effects a change of colour in the flowers of the Hydrangea ? 
> 
Berks , September 3, 1840. Q,UERIST. 
[We shall make inquiry, and endeavour to get some light thrown on the 
subject alluded to ; at the same time we invite others to follow the example of 
“ Querist,” and communicate their difficulties freely and candidly to us. Of 
course, we have not the vanity to presume that we ourselves personally are to 
solve all or any of the difficulties of practical men. Our object is to render 
them instructors to each other; and our own proper business is to offer the 
11 Florist’s Journal” as the vehicle of mutual and reciprocal instruction to all 
who cultivate, or who love the beauties of Flora.] 
VOL. I. NO. VXD 
X 
