June  8,  1699. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
471 
HYDRANGEAS. 
Dueixg  May  and  June  few  pot  plants  produce  a  more  imposing 
effect  than  Hydrangeas.  Ilortensis  seems  to  be  the  favourite  variety, 
and  it  is  grown  in  immense  quantities  by  market  men.  All  who  see 
them  admire  the  b'^auiiful  little  specimens,  each  carrying  a  huge 
flower  head,  which  find  their  way  to  the  markets,  where  they  com¬ 
mand  a  ready  sale.  Few  plants  are  more  easily  cultivated  when  the 
right  method  is  pursued  ;  yet  in  private  gardens  generally  they  do  not 
appear  to  be  grown  in  anything  like  the  numbers 
they  should,  rnnsidering  their  great  usefulness. 
At  Barford  Hill,  near  Warwick,  Mr.  K.  Jones 
grows  latge  numbers  of  them  si  lendidly,  as 
he  finds  them  of  great  service  for  decorative 
purp-^ses. 
As  a  hardy  border  plant  also  Hydrangeas  are 
exceedingly  effective,  and  I  know'  of  one  Kentish 
garden  where  they  form  a  great  feature  during 
the  summer  months.  Those  who  happen  to  have 
a  lew'  old  plants  <;rowing  in  pots  or  in  the  open 
border  should  endeavour  to  raise  a  stock  of  young 
ones,  as  I  consider  it  is  in  a  young  state  that  they 
are  the  most  useful. 
Early  in  August  is  a  good  time  to  begin  the 
work  ,  of  propagation.  I  select  strong  tops,  and 
leave  tw'o  joints  to  each.  These  are  inserted  in  a 
mixture  of  good  loam  and  leaf  soil,  pressed  very 
firmly  into  3-inch  pots.  The  cuttings  ought  to 
be  inserted  deeply,  so  that  the  leafstalks  of  the 
large  leaves  are  covered  with  soil ;  this  is  the 
first  step  towards  securing  dwarf  sturdy  plants. 
Every  cutting  may  be  relied  upon  to  root  if 
placed  in  a  cold  frame  and  kept  close,  shaded,  and 
w'ell  syringed,  admitting  a  little  air  as  soon  as 
signs  of  growth  are  apparent.  When  roots  are 
plentiful  admit  air  freely,  and  eventually  remove 
the  lights  to  get  the  growth  firm  and  ripe,  as  it  is 
important  to  prevent  growth  being  made  during 
the  autumn  ;  the  aim  should  rather  be  to  secure 
a  plump  bud,  and  keep  it  dormant  till  the  spring. 
This  object  may  be  accomplished  by  leaving  the 
plants  fully  exposed  till  the  first  week  in  October, 
then  removing  them  to  a  cool  house,  which  only 
receives  sufficient  fire  heat  to  keep  out  frost,  ami 
throughout  the  winter  keeping  the  plactsdry  at 
the  roots,  giving  just  enough  water  to  keep  the 
leaves  from  falling. 
During  Febiuary  commence  to  give  more 
water,  and  when  the  plants  are  growing  freely 
place  in  their  flowering  pots — 5  or  6-inch,  using 
a  compost  of  three  paits  good  loam,  and  one  of 
fresh  stable  manure  ])a.ssed  through  a  half-inch 
sieve.  Pot  very  firmly,  and  sink  the  plants  quite 
up  to  the  first  pair  of  leaves,  in  order  to  secure 
a  dwarf  sturdy  habit.  Subsequent  details  of 
culture  are  simple  enough.  It  is  in  the  manage¬ 
ment  up  to  this  stage  that  some  growers  fail.  If 
a  number  of  jilants  are  wanted  in  flower  earl}', 
grow  them  in  gentle  heat  in  a.  light  house  from 
the  time  of  the  final  potting  till  the  flower  bracts 
appear,  then  lemove  to  an  ordinary  greenhouse 
temperature,  as  the  flowers  come  pale  in  colour, 
instead  of  a  delicate  pink,  if  kept  in  heat  while 
they  are  expanding.  Whenever  the  weather  is 
bright  and  w'arm  syringe  thoroughly  daily,  to 
promote  healthy  grow.h  and  keep  green  aphis  at 
bay.  From  the  time  the  flower  bracts  are  just 
visible  until  they  are  fully  expanded  regular  feeding  should  be 
given  in  the  form  of  liquid  manure,  and  an  occasional  top- 
dressing  with  some  good  chemical  fertiliser.  This  is  an  important 
point  to  observe,  in  order  to  produce  large  individual  “  pips  ”  and 
“  bracts.” 
If  Hydrangeas  arc  grown  in  soil  highly  impregnated  with  iron 
the  flowers  will  assume  a  peculiar  bluish  tint,  and  some  years  ago  I 
accomplished  the  same  result  by  mixing  iron  filings  from  a  black¬ 
smith’s  shop  with  the  potting  soil.  The  beautiful  pink  colour  is,  I 
think,  to  he  preferred  to  the  blue,  but  nevertheless  it  is  interesting  to 
be  able  to  produce  both  shades  of  colour  from  the  same  variety  of 
Hydrangeas  Dr.  Hogg,  wuth  its  d  stinctly  variegate!  leaves,  is 
worth  growing  in  limited  numbers,  but  as  the  flowers  a'e  not  so 
impoting  as  tho.se  of  hortensis  they  do  not  sell  so  readily  in  the 
markets.  Paniculata  grandiflora  is  a  superb  variety,  of  which,  both  for 
growing  in  pots  and  for  shrubberies,  cut-back  plants  make  beautiful 
specimens. 
In  private  gardens,  where  large  conservatories  have  to  be  kept  gay' 
during  the  summer  months,  paniculata  grandiflora  should  be  grown 
into  large  specimens  by  shifting  the  plants  annually  till  they  occupy 
12  or  14-inch  pots,  then  by  feeding  freely  grand  specimens,  carrying 
from  eighteen  to  two  dozen  flowers  may  be  grown  in  a  few  years. 
Two-year-old  plants  of  hortensis  are  also  very  attractive.  An  excel¬ 
lent  method  to  pursue  to  have  them  in  good  condition  is  the  following. 
As  soon  as .  the  young  plants  have  finished  flowering,  cut  themi 
doAvn  to  within  half  an  inch  of  the  soil ;  two  or  three  growths  wiD 
Fig.  105.— Cattleya  Mossi.e  Beauty  of  Bush  Hill. 
then  come ;  when  these  are  growing  freely  turn  them  out  of  the 
pots,  reduce  the  ball,  and  replace  into  pots  of  the  same  size,  grow  in 
the  open  air  till  autumn,  keep  cool  during  the  winter,  and  place  in 
7  or  8-inch  pots  during  February  or  March.  Three  gigantic  heads 
may  then  be  produced  on  a  single  plant.  H.  hortensis  is  a  profitable 
plant  if  grown  well,  as  each  one  requires  little  space  ;  they  sell  readily,, 
and  do  not  require  much  fire  heat.— H.  Dun  kin. 
Forsythias.— These  are  very  pretty  shrubs,  quickly  and  easily 
grown,  and  flowering  early  in  the  season.  The  greenish  yellow  flowers  look 
very  pretty  when  the  bushes  are  planted  near  some  of  the  better  varieties 
of  liibes  sanguineum.  The  Forsythias  open  first,  but  are  still  fresh 
when  the  Kibes  flowers.  Although  thriving  in  a  way  on  almost  any  class 
of  soil,  the  Forsythias  are  worth  a  good  soil  and  situation,  and  where 
the  former  has  been  deeply  stirred  and  the  plants  are  well  established, 
long  Willow-like  shoots  are  made  that  are  wreathed  with  flowers  ia 
spring. — H. 
