THE GREATER BOG-PLANTS 175 
delicate spires of white. Though perfectly vigorous and 
healthy, it is rather more impatient of sunshine than its 
kindred, and will do you better, and show you finer 
spikes, if you plant it where the blaze is not excessive. 
The Astilbes have not even this faint want; they thrive 
anywhere in cool soil—herbaceous Spiraeas in all but 
name, prolific of the usual bending plumes of white or 
pink. I cannot enter upon the minute differentiation of 
Astilbe, Spiraea, and Aruncus; if the lover of the race 
remembers it altogether as Spiraea, he will be wise 
enough for all ordinary purposes. <Astilbe rivularis, 
Spiraea astilboeides are both lovely, easy ornaments of 
bog or water-side; tall, airy, stately are the hybrid 
Astilbes, Nuée Rose and Silver Sheaf—whose names 
describe them—enlarged, glorified versions as they are of 
rivularis. Nuée Rose has a soft, appealing shade, but in 
the cousinhood of japonica by far the best pinks are 
given us by the two new varieties of japonica itself, 
which are called respectively Peach-blossom and Queen 
Alexandra—and of which the Queen is infinitely the 
better, as she should be,—tall, rosy, perfectly graceful and 
noble. Both kinds, though, bear large profuse feathers 
of the loveliest, tenderest rose, superior to almost every 
other colour in the race. Nor must I leave out, for 
loyalty’s sake, Japonica Mr. Gladstone, a magnified form 
of the type, carrying glorified spikes of pure white. 
As for Aruncus sylvester from Japan, this is a close 
cousin of Spiraea Aruncus, producing, on tall, loose stems, 
long sheaves of white or pale pink. 
Astilbe Davidit is new enough and still rare enough 
for the glory of a separate paragraph. Its rarity, 
however, will not long continue, as it seeds so faithfully 
and generously. Further, it grows, thrives, increases like 
the most vigorous of its kind in any cool soil, in any 
exposure—a most notable, splendid introduction from the 
