The Canadian Horticulturist. 



25 



THE SPIR^AS. 



N I. of the most popular class of shrubs in the door yards 

 of Southern Ontario is the Spfraia, because it is so easily 

 grown and propagated ; so pretty in bloom, so useful in 

 decorations, and many species are so hardy. Then, in 

 planting a large houseyard, or park, the , spiraeas, are well 

 adapted to the requirements of the landscape p,ttist who 

 desires to round out the outline of his clumps of trees and 

 shrubbery well dow^n to the green sward. 



The spiraeas are by no meians new favorites. Away 

 back in ancient Greece, Theophrastus called them by name, and the Greek word 

 -speirae, I wind, seems to be the derivation, alluding to its use in making garlands. 

 There are some fifty varieties known, of which three are found natives of Canada, 

 under the common name. Meadow Sweet, viz. : S. opulifolia, S. salicifolia, and 

 S. tomentosa. 



A very popular variety in our gardens is Spiraea van Houttie, a variety that 

 seems hardy, a healthy grower, showing very little dead wood. On this latter 

 account it is a great favorite with many planters as an ornamental hedge for 

 separating the vegetable garden from the lawn. 



S. astilboides, which is shown in the engraving, is a handsome Japanese 

 variety, of somewhat dwarfish character, and of very graceful habit. The flowers 

 are white, in spicata panicles. It would be well suited to the mixed border, or 

 to rockery decoration ; though it is particularly at home in a moist locality. 

 How hardy it is, the writer is not able to say, but possibly some reader may 

 have some experience to offer. 



Another Japanese variety, S. prunifolia flore-plene, is cultivated in Canada 

 gardens, under the nama of Bridal wreath. It is quite hardy and very pretty, 

 with flowers in little rosettes about a quarter, or one-third of an inch in diameter, 

 arranged along the slender willowy shoots. 



