HYDRANGEAS' WORTH GROWING

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 92, 12 January 1940, Page 14

HYDRANGEAS' WORTH GROWING

Varieties Recommended By An Expert

Her opinion on hydrangeas worth cultivating was given by Miss E, A. Beagley, an authority on the subject, in a recent horticultural lecture at the Centennial Exhibition. She recommends the following:—

Lancelot, one of the delicate shades of pink or mauve, with a serrated edge, which comes into bloom early. Much prized for its habit of turning a good green in autumn. King George, a splendid blue, strong and vigorous grower with, frilled petals. Makes a handsome bush. Queen Wilhelmina, robust grower, particularly good in the mauve shades. Marshal Foch, a very deep shade in rose or purple. Paris, a good bloomer, deep pink. Reingold, a soft pink with large heads.

AL D. Cartwright, a good variety in soft, pearl pink. Frauleinsarawakun, one of the best in deep, rose pink, a slow grower but strong and sturdy, and a profuse bloomer.

Heine Siedel, another deep shade of rose and one of the latest ones. ■ Geishla, a very rich rose. G. Glam, good in any colour, an easy grower often giving 50 blooms to a bush;

Mathes and Goliath, both very much alike, growth excellent, colour good in either pink, mauve or blue, producing many blooms on fine bushes. Elmer, an attractive frilly-edged deep rose colour. Airs. Theo Stevenson, an excellent habit of growth, best in blue, even young bushes carrying 50 heads.

Marie Alathes, an amethyst, and Rose Bouquet, Midesachen, and Al. Truffaut, all’of a good shade of turquoise blue. Some varieties, according to Allss Beagley, are excellent in both pink or blue, such; as Paryival, Sensation, Lancelot, Elmar, G. Glahn, F. Alathes. and Goliath. Others are better left to nature. Alathes or Goliath can be changed from blue to a good clear pink in one season, and where it was a decided blue will come a very clear pink the next season. Sensation will do exactly the same, and is excellent in either colour. Added to this it is invaluable for late autumn blooms. H. B. Alay pink, a sturdy grower, is also worth growing for autumn blooms. Rubis and Centrillion are much admired for their depth of colouring, either rich: plum purple, when grown in acid soil, or the deepest and richest rose shades. Both of these are strong growers.

For colour treatment Allss Beagley recommends 4oz. of sulphate of iron to 2 gallons of water, or 21b. alum to each large bush, for blues, and for pinks, lime or crushed oyster shell.