280 HARDY PERENNIALS AND 



ought not to be allowed to develope. I only mention this subject 

 for the sake of its beautifully coloured leaves. 



Requirements : Ordinary garden loam, in a moist situation ; 

 propagated by root divisions during autumn. 



Flowering period, May to August. 



Spiraea Venusta. 



QUEEN OF THE PRAIRIE ; Nat. Ord. ROSACES. 

 A COMPARATIVELY new species of the herbaceous section, from 

 North America. In good deep loam it grows to the height of 

 3ft. or more. 



The flowers are of a soft red, after the manner of those of 8. 

 palmata, but rather differently arranged, viz., in clustered sprays 

 or cymes, which bend outwards ; they are durable and very 

 effective, even when seen at some distance in the garden, whilst 

 for cutting they are flowers of first-class merit ; the leaves are 

 large, somewhat coarse, pinnate, segments sharply lobed and 

 irregularly serrated. 



I find this plant to flower indifferently under the shade of 

 trees, but in a fully exposed situation, planted in a deep retentive 

 loam, it thrives and flowers well. It is perfectly hardy, and 

 easily propagated by division during autumn. 



Flowering period, June to August. 



Statice Latifolia. 



BROAD-LEAVED SEA-LAVENDER; Nat. Ord. PLUMBAGINACE^E. 

 THIS hardy perennial is all but evergreen in this climate. 

 Probably there are two varieties of it, as although the plants in 

 growth and form correspond, there is a notable difference in 

 the habit of some specimens, as regards the greenness of the 

 foliage in winter; whilst one shrivels and blackens the other 

 will remain more or less green. It is possible that the native 

 countries from which they come may have something to do with 

 this fact. The species was introduced from Portugal in 1740, 

 and again from Siberia in 1791. It need not be wondered at if 

 the variety from the northern habitat proved the more verdant, 

 notwithstanding its becoming acclimatised. Its lofty and diffuse 

 panicles are ornamental and lasting ; it is a subject which may 

 be grown in almost any part of the garden, and hardly seem 

 misplaced, notwithstanding its height of 3ft., because only the 

 slender stems, furnished with their minute flowers, rise above 

 the ground, and from the cloud-like effects more dwarf flowers 

 can be easily seen, even when behind them. In many such 

 cases, therefore, this gauzy-flowered Sea-lavender proves of 

 advantage. 



