AN ENCYCLOPADIA OF HORTICULTURE. 
Spinach—continued. 
Spinach intended for standing through the winter 
should be sown, according to the locality, from the 
middle of August till the middle of September, when it 
is tolerably certain not to run to seed before winter. 
In unfavourable districts, the- former date will not be 
too soon, while the latter will suit some localities, As 
before noted, a favoured spot should be selected, and 
the drills should be rather wider apart than for -the 
summer crops: about 15in. will be close enough. It is 
often advisable to make two sowings for winter, as, if 
the first proves too early, the second may be better 
‘depended upon to succeed. 
Sorts. These are not numerous; they are divided into 
‘two classes, which are distinguished by the seeds, one 
being smooth, the other prickly. The Round-seeded, 
known as Summer Spinach, is most extensively grown 
in summer; the Prickly, or Winter Spinach, is the 
hardier of the two, and is sown for withstanding the 
winter. Flanders Spinach and Lettuce-leaved Spinach 
are varieties of the Round-seeded class, which are not 
always distinguished and grown separately from the com- 
mon sort. > 
Fungi. The only Fungus’ that has been recorded as 
seriously destructive to Spinach is Peronospora effusa. 
For an account of this parasite, see Peronospora. 
Plants attacked by it should be removed without delay, 
and, if possible, burned, to destroy the spores of the 
Fungus. 
Insects. The insect pests are not numerous, and 
there are none that can be regarded as peculiarly attached 
to this plant. Its chief foes are larve of Moths, such 
as are described under the headings Noctua, Plusia, 
Potherb Moths, and Surface Caterpillars, where 
also information will be found as to the remedies to be 
employed against their ravages. 
When the plants are allowed to run to seed, the in- 
florescence is often infested by Aphis Rumicis, and 
other kinds of Green Flies. See Aphides. 
SPINACH, MOUNTAIN. A name applied to 
Atriplex hortensis. 
SPINACH, NEW ZEALAND. See Tetragonia 
expansa. 
SPINACH, WILD. 
podium Bonus-Henricus. 
SPINACIA (from spina, a prickle; alluding to the 
prickly processes of the fruit). Spinach. ORD. Cheno- 
podiacee. A small genus (four species) of hardy, annual, 
erect, glabrous herbs, natives of the Orient. Flowers 
diœcious, very rarely hermaphrodite, glomerate; male 
glomerules in terminal, interrupted spikes, females often 
axillary. Leaves alternate, petiolate, triangular-ovate or 
hastate, entire or sinuate-toothed. S. oleracea, a valu- 
able herb, is the only species calling for description here. 
For culture, &c., see Spinach. 
S. oleracea (culi ` x% ing in long, terminal 
spikes ; rend anger! All mg c ne Rie Ng FER Seeds in some 
varieties prickly, in others smooth. 1. large, thick, succulent, 
somewhat triangular, deep green, on long petioles. Stem erect, 
large, round, hollow, about 2ft. high. H568. The varieties 
glabra and spinosa represent the ROUND and PRICKLY SEEDED 
varieties. 
SPINDLE-TREE. See Euonymus. 
SPINE. A sharp-pointed, woody or indurated body ; 
a hardened leaf-stalk, stipule, abortive branch, or any 
A common name for Cheno- 
other process into the composition of which woody tissue | 
enters, . 
SPINESCENT. Terminating in a sharp point or 
Spine. 
SPINOSE. Furnished with spines; of a spiny 
character. 
SPINULIFEROUS, SPINULOSE. 
with diminutive spines. 
Vol. III. 
Furnished 
473 
SPIRÆA (the old Greek name used by Theophrastus, 
probably from speiras, to wind; alluding to the fitness of 
the plants for forming into garlands). Meadow-sweet. 
ORD. Rosacew. A genus comprising about fifty species 
of handsome (mostly deciduous and hardy) shrubs, sub- 
shrubs, or herbs, broadly dispersed over the temperate 
and sub-frigid regions of the Northern hemisphere, rarely 
found in the tropics. Flowers pink or white, axillary or 
terminal, variously clustered; calyx persistent, with an 
urceolate, campanulate, or concave tube, and a limb of 
four or five imbricated or valvate lobes; petals four or five, 
rounded, shortly clawed; stamens twenty to sixty, in one, 
two, or three series. Leaves alternate, simple or pinnate, 
or twice or thrice ternate; stipules free, or adnate in a 
sheath at the bases of the petioles, rarely obsolete. ‘The 
shrubby species succeed in almost any soil in open situa- 
tions. . The perennials prefer moist places and loamy soil, 
particularly S. palmata and S. Ulmaria, which succeed well 
by the side of water. Shrubby Spirwas are propagated 
by cuttings of the young wood, inserted in sandy soil, and 
kept close and shaded until rooted; or by means of the 
root-offsets which are so freely produced by most of the 
species. The perennials may be increased by divisions. 
A modification of Maximowicz’ key to the genus is 
given below. Some of the sections are looked upon as 
distinct genera by that author. 
: Aruncus, 
iœcious; withering in fruit, h ous with the 
cues, a Ca ‘hires, pha ap: ig Leaves re- 
peatedly divided in a ternate manner. 
Aruncus 
astilboides 
Eriogynia, 
ite ; i in frui ous with 
abr lotg bnseiemgig aver ioe tired, e feet ama 
sembling sawdust. Leaves twice ternately divided, 
pectinata i 
Spiræa proper. L 
i ; cal i t 
“pele E wish, Gus aA era a eae 
inous, 3 several, more or less appendiculate ; 
albumen none or almost obsolete. : 
SECTION I, PETROPHYTUM. 
Flowers racemose; pedicels of equal length, sometimes very short. 
czespitosa, 
SECTION II. CHAMADRYON, 
Flowers not truly racemose; pedicels of the corymbs or clusters 
one-flowered, of unequal length. 
Series 1, 
what dissimilar, vw very 
ypericifolia 
runifolia flore-pleno 
. unbergii 
- Series 2. Leaves of the flowering and sterile branches similar, 
usually elongated. 
Blumei 
cana 
cantoniensis 
chameedrifolia 
SECTION III, SPIrRARIA. 
Corymbs or panicles compound. 
Series 1. Flowers corymbose. 
< bella 
betulifolia 
canescens 
decumbens 
gracilis 
japonica 
Sibirza, 
Flowers paniculate, dicecious. 
levigata : 
3 P 
Leaves of the flowering and sterile branches some- | 
