HED 
HIB 
leaf, and sometimes continue through the 
winter; they are succeeded by a nut, 
which seldom ripens with us. They may 
be grown as underwood, and are increased 
by layers. 
HEDERA, Ivy-. (Swartz.) Nat. 
Ord. Araliacece. This well-known ever¬ 
green climber is, perhaps, the best plant 
we possess for covering old walls, or 
similar places, clothing with verdure 
what else would be offensive to the eye 
of taste ; it has many opponents, and an 
equal number of stanch defenders; 
though not positively a parasite, it is de¬ 
cidedly injurious to living trees, and if 
permitted to overgrow them, will as¬ 
suredly cause their death by suffocation. 
The notion that ivy causes damp in walls 
on which it grows is unfounded, and 
the contrary opinion may be regarded as 
most correct; if permitted to grow un¬ 
restrained, it certainly accumulates dust, 
and if. birds are allowed to build their 
nests in it, some annoyance may hence 
arise, but as there are preventives to each 
of these objections, the judgment must 
be considered hasty that would altogether 
banish the plant. In pruning ivy some 
pains are required, as it does not bear the 
indiscriminate clipping of the shears, but 
should be cut back with a knife, and this 
pruning should take place in spring in¬ 
stead of autumn, as is usual, for at that 
time the plants are about to grow, and 
will speedily cover the space with new 
foliage; while, on the other hand, if the 
leaves are cut away in autumn, the un¬ 
pleasant aspect of bare stems and naked 
bricks must be an eyesore all winter, in 
addition to which there is the loss to the 
plant of the nutriment stored by the 
leaves, and intended for its benefit, 
through the dormant season, when other 
sources of nourishment are closed. The 
ivy delights in rather light well-drained 
soil, often refusing to grow in that of 
opposite character, and does not bear 
removal when grown to any considerable 
size; on this account it is usually kept in 
pots at the nurseries, that it may be in a 
fit state to transplant at any time, and 
when removed the roots and ball of earth 
should be planted just as they are, for if 
loosened the death of the plant often 
ensues; where the soil is suitable, a 
plentiful stock of plants may be had by 
merely sticking pieces of two feet in 
length where they are to grow. Our 
English name ivy is derived from the 
Celtic iw, signifying green, or always 
green. 
The best varieties are the Irish ivy, 
with large dark green leaves, and the 
“gold stripe,” having foliage nearly as 
large, margined with bright yellow. 
HEDYSARUM (Linn.) Nat. Ord. 
Leguminosce. H.fruticosum is a fast-grow¬ 
ing and free-flowering shrub, with pin¬ 
nate leaves and purple blossoms, suitable 
for planting in shrubberies and beneath 
large trees; it thrives in any soil/and is 
readily increased by layers or seed. It is 
commonly, though erroneously, called 
Erench honeysuckle, a name which pro¬ 
perly belongs to another and biennial 
species. 
HELIANTHEMUM, Sun Rose. 
(Tournefort.) _ Nat. Ord. Cistacece. 
A rather extensive and very interesting 
genus of dwarf ligneous plants, for the 
most part of procumbent habit; none of 
them rise above two feet, and, like their 
allies the cistse, are peculiarly fitting orna¬ 
ments to rockwork. They delight in open 
well-drained soil, and where such can be 
afforded are very desirable for masses in 
the flower garden, or in the front rank of 
small shrubberies. Among those which 
are perfectly hardy, few are more beauti¬ 
ful than the H. vulgare and its varieties, 
with pale or deep yellow, and single red 
or double flowers ; grandiflorum , croceum, 
roseum, and polifolium are all beautiful 
little plants. Some others of the genus 
require protection in frames through the 
winter, of which additional care they are 
well deserving. Propagation is easy, 
either by layers or cuttings, struck under 
a handglass. 
HIBISCUS SYRLiCUS, Althea 
frutex (Willdenow.) Nat. Ord. Mal¬ 
vaceae. The varieties of this deciduous 
free-flowering shrub are great favor¬ 
ites in gardens, their large gaily-coloured 
and numerous blossoms being greatly 
admired; the plants thrive in any toler¬ 
ably good soil, and attain a height of slx 
or eight feet, when the mallow-like flowers 
