9C 



Bulletin 145 



STEEPLE-BUSH, spiraea fouicntosa L. 



This is so familiar that reference to the illustration, to 

 avoid possible error in usage of the name, is all that is needed. 

 Every Vermonter knows its characteristics. Wherever there is a 

 neglected wayside or pasture, especially in the moister spots, 

 the steeple bush soon raises its spire-like 

 flower clusters. When in fresh bloom its 

 delicate rose tints contrasting with the dark 

 green foliage are pleasing to one who can 

 forget its weedy aggressiveness. A few 

 3'ears ago the alarming increase of this 

 shrub in rocky pastures, formerly so pro- 

 ductive, was a cause of much regret to 

 thrifty farmers. Today it is realized that 

 the hard-hack spires are often an emblem 

 of hope, pointing to the better days soon 

 to come when, under wise encouragement, 

 nature is to reforest these rocky lands with 

 spruce and pine, the noblest and most 

 profitable crops that can be grown upon 

 them. Darlington says that the steeple- 

 bush was, on account of its astrin- 

 gency, formerly considerably used in do- 

 mestic medicines in New England. Its 

 day as a medicine is probably largely past, 

 but it is so attractive a shrub that it is sure 

 to become more valued for use in ornamental planting. It is 

 sometimes called woolly spiraea in contrast with the species 

 figured and described on the opposite page. 



Steeple-bush. 

 In flower, X %. 



