OLD-FASHIONED GARDEN FLOWERS. 279 



is, however, a well-known form of flower, or arrangement of 

 flowers, and need not be further described, beyond saying they 

 are in panicles and have a feathery appearance. The leaves, 

 which are 6in. or more across, have long smooth stems, are 

 mostly seven-lobed, the lobes being long, pointed, and unevenly 

 serrated. The size of foliage and height of plants vary very 

 much; if grown in a bog or by the side of a stream, it attains 

 the height of 3ft. to 4ft. ; in drier situations I have seen it 

 flower when only lOin. high. The specimen illustrated is about 

 15in. high. 



A light spongy vegetable soil, with plenty of moisture, is the 

 main requirement of most of the Spiraeas, and to grow them to 

 perfection little less will do ; but a creditable display of bloom 

 may be enjoyed from plants grown in ordinary garden loam, 

 provided the situation is moist. By way of experiment, I planted 

 a dozen roots of this species in an exposed border, drained, and 

 in all respects the same as for the ordinary run of border flowers. 

 They none of them flowered, and scarcely grew ; at no time 

 would they be higher than 6in. I wish to make it clear that the 

 Spiraeas, and especially S. palmata, cannot be grown and bloomed 

 well without an abundance of moisture at the roots, as I am 

 aware that many have tried and failed with this desirable kind. 

 It should be treated as a bog plant, then it can scarcely fail to 

 do well. In sunk parts of rockwork, by the walk gutters, by the 

 side of a pond or stream, or (if there is one) in the hedge dyke, 

 are all suitable places for this bright flower, and if only for the 

 fine spikes which it produces for cutting purposes, it should be 

 grown largely ; and as most of the positions indicated are some- 

 what out of the way, they may perhaps be the more readily thus 

 appropriated. Propagated by division of strong roots during 

 autumn. 



Flowering period, July and August. 



Spirgea Ulmaria Variegata. 



Syn. S. ODORATA FOL. YAR. ; Nat. Ord. ROSACES. 

 THE beautiful variegated form of the well-known " Meadow- 

 sweet," other old names being " Mead-sweet," and "Queen of the 

 Meadows." The typical form, at least, needs no description, it 

 being one of the commonest and most appreciated plants of the 

 British flora. This variety, however, is less known; it differs 

 only as regards the markings of the foliage. When the crimped 

 leaves are young, the broad golden patches are very effective, 

 and when the plants are fully grown, the markings of the older 

 foliage become lighter coloured, but not less rich. Of the value 

 of this as a " fine foliage " plant there can be no doubt ; it is 

 very telling, and always admired. As regards its flowers, they 



