The illustration is from a photograph of a plant of Hydrangea Otaksa growing in the Cornell University conservatories. This plant is about six years old, and at present occupies a 16-inch pot and supports 46 flower clusters, the largest of which are about eleven inches in diameter. The plant measures 4 feet 7 inches in height and 5 feet 4 inches in diameter as staked up, which of course is much less than it would measure if allowed to take its own way. The plant has received only ordinary care, the method of treatment being as follows: When through blooming it is removed from the pot and planted out in the garden, mulching the soil around the plant. If the season is dry the plant is watered occasionally. As soon as cold weather sets in, it is taken up and potted, using a soil composed of three parts turfy loam and one part decomposed cow-manure. It is then placed in a cold frame and watered occasionally, taking care not to give too much. While in this situation give all the air and sunshine possible, in order to procure thoroughly ripened wood, which is absolutely essential to the best flowering qualities.

About January 1st it is brought into the greenhouse, where it has a night temperature of 50 degrees, and 10 degrees higher in the day time. It is kept in this house until the flowers are well formed ; then remove to a warmer house, receiving a temperature of about 55 at night and 65 during the day. It is then watered more freely and fertilized with manure water twice a week. The plant needs to be syringed twice or three times a week to keep down red-spider. The green-fly bothers it sometimes, but is easily kept in check by fumigating. Otherwise it is a plant which is easily managed and ought to be more extensively grown.

As a decorative plant, it has few equals. It is also particularly valuable for outside in summer if wintered over in a cold frame or a cool cellar. It is not only showy and attractive but remarkable for the length of time during which it remains in flower.

It is easily propagated by cuttings of the young wood, preferably taken during February or March. When rooted, place in small pots and shift to larger ones, when these get full of roots. Put the plants outside when the weather will permit. Plunge the pots in coal ashes to avoid rapid drying out and to prevent worms from entering the pot. Keep the plants well watered. If properly attended as regards repotting and watering, they will be ready to be put in an 8-inch pot by fall, and will make nice flowering plants by spring. From this time on the treatment is the same as that already described for old plants.

It may be a matter of interest to note that of six plants the same age three were removed from the pots and planted out during the summer while the others were kept in pots continuously but plunged in the ground during summer. The three which were planted out, the one illustrated being one of them, have done much better. The others produced fewer and smaller flowers and a great proportion of blind wood.

Robert Shore.

[Note. - Hydrangea Otaksa is considered to be a variety of H. Hortensia. It was figured and described in France so long as 1868, in both Flore des Serres and Revue Horticole. It is of Japanese origin. This is one of the finest of all cultivated plants, and our illustration represents an excellent specimen. - Ed].