872 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



S. canescens. — A graceful shrub from the I 

 Himalayas, reaching a height of many feet at 

 maturity, with hairy stems, small bluntly-oval 

 leaves, and white (or rarely pale pink) 

 Hawthorn-scented flowers in crowded clusters 

 upon the slender sprays. The plant needs 

 room to spread its whip-like stems, and is \ 

 best in a sheltered place beside water, though 1 

 it will do fairly well in drier places and even 

 in partial shade. It has a score or more 



as S. coufusa) resembles S. cantonieusis, but 

 its variety rotitndiflora is distinct and pretty. 



S. decumbens is a charming mountain shrub 

 from the Tyrol, seldom exceeding 6 inches in 

 height, and excellent in the rock-garden where 

 it spreads by means of underground stems. 

 The clusters of white flowers about 2 inches 

 across, come freely in June against a setting of 

 pretty toothed leaves. Coming near this in 

 effect are S. Hacqueti of the Alps, and 



Spira;a aria;foIia. 



of names, the most familiar of its synonyms 

 being S. flagellaris. 



8. cantoniensis {Canton S.), a slender bush, 

 abf)Ut a yard high, bearing many small clusters 

 of white flowers. There is also a beautiful 

 dfHible variety in which the flowers last longer. 

 The Plum-leaved Spirjea {S. priuiifolia) is 

 represented in gardens by the double variety 

 (Jlore-pleno), a charming shrub, with flowers 

 like tiny snow-while rosettes, in early summer 

 wreathing every twig. .S". media (better known 



pectinata and caespitosa from the mountains of 

 America— tiny creeping shrubs with clusters of 

 white flowers, and all well suited for sunny 

 places in the alpine garden. 



S, discolor (Spray Bush), a lovely shrub 8 

 to lo ft. high, and I have seen it much higher, 

 grown on walls. We should seek to give full 

 expression to its singular beauty by careful 

 planting and grouping— taking care to save it 

 from the horrible jumble that nurserymen give 

 us when they plant a "shrubbery." ' To show 



