SPI 



552 



SPO 



ing downward until it has arrived at 

 its full growth; it then changes to a 

 pupa serrated with transverse short 

 spines, which enable it to ascend to an 

 opening previously prepared by tiie 

 larva, from which the sphinx escapes, 

 leaving the pupa case half protruding 

 from the branch. 



cold weather give a light covering of 

 straw, cedar brush, or anything that 

 will lay lightly, and partially protect 

 it; otherwise the finest and most suc- 

 culent leaves become discoloured by 

 the frost." — Rural Reg. 



To obtain Seed. — A sowing of each 

 variety may be made in February or 



" The caterpillar is fleshy and whitish, March, according to the openness of 



with an obscure dorsal line: the head 

 and four horny spots upon the first 

 thoracic segment are bright brown; it 

 has six pectoral, eight abdominal, and 

 two anal feet, which are of a similar 

 colour, and a few fine longish hairs are 

 scattered over its body. The moth is 

 of a brilliant chalybeon black, inclining 

 to purple, which is beautifully contrast- 

 ed with the golden wings encircling its 

 body when glittering in the sunshine. 

 The black currants appear to be the 

 most subject to these attacks of the 

 currant sphinx caterpillar, and the first 

 indication of its presence is the wither- 

 ing of the leaves and branches." — 

 Gard. Chron. 



SPIDER OPHRYS. Ojihrys 

 aranifern. 



SPIDER WORT. Tradescantia. 



SPIELMANNIA africana. Green- 

 house evergreen shrub. Cuttings. Light 

 rich soil. 



SPIGELIA anthelmia, a stove an- 

 nual, and S. marilandica, a hardy herb- 

 aceous perennial. Seeds and cuttings 

 Loam and peat. 



SPINACH. Spinacea oleracea. 



the season, or of the round-leaved va- 

 riety some plants of a regular crop may 

 be allowed to run up in April or May ; 

 and of the triangular-leaved, some 

 plants of the winter standing crops may 

 be suffered to remain. Keep them clear 

 of weeds. Spinach is dioecious, and 

 many ignorant persons, perceiving 

 some of the plants to have no appear- 

 ance of bearing seed, advise these to 

 be pulled up, but these are the male- 

 bearing plants, without which the 

 others would be unfruitful. If, how- 

 ever, they are very numerous, some of 

 them may be removed with benefit to 

 those that remain, care being taken that 

 some are left in every part of the bed. 

 When the seed is set the male plants 

 may be entirely removed, which allows 

 more room for the fruitful. When the 

 seed is ripe, which is known by its be- 

 ginning to shed, in July or August, the 

 plants ought to be pulled up and laid to 

 dry thoroughly on a cloth, previously 

 to its being beaten out and stored. 



SPIR^A. Forty-one species and 

 many varieties. Hardy deciduous 

 shrubs or herbaceous perennials, a few 



" The Spinage or Spinach has been i are tuberous-rooted. Layers or young 

 long cultivated, and is supposed to have j cuttings, and the herbaceous species by 



come originally from Western Asia. Its 

 use is well known. 



" The principal varieties are the round 

 eeeded Savoy-leaved and Prickly-seed- 

 ed. The former is best for spring and 

 summer use, the latter is preferred 

 for autumn sowing, being considered 

 hardier. 



" It may be sown broad cast or in 

 drills. When drilled, it is easier kept 

 clean, and more readily gathered for 

 use. The drills should be twelve inches 

 apart, the plants four inches apart in 

 the rows. If sown thicker, thin out 

 when young, as wanted ; leaving plants 

 at proper distances. For spring and 

 early summer use, sow early in spring, 

 and occasionally afterward; for the 

 early autumn supply, sow at close of 

 summer, and for the main winter crops 

 about middle of autumn. Before very 



division. Peat and loam, or common 

 soil. 



SPIRALEPIS. Four species. Green- 

 house herbaceous perennials. S. squar- 

 rosa, an evergreen shrub. Seeds, cut- 

 tings, and division. Sandy peat and 

 loam. 



SPIRANTHERA odoratissima. Stove 

 evergreen shrub. Half 'ripened cut- 

 tings. Sandy loam and peat. 



SPIRANTHES. Four species. Stove 

 green-house and half-hardy orchids. Di- 

 vision. Peat and loam. 



SPIR0NEMA/?-ag-;-(7ns. Stove herb- 

 aceous perennial. Division. Light rich 

 loam. 



SPONGE TREE. Acacia farnesiana. 



SPOT, a disease occurring on the 

 leaves of the pelargonium, is a dry gan- 

 grene, occasioned by an irregularity in 

 the supply of moisture and vicissitudes 



