ROSE FAMILY 



The well known double spircea, Spircea prunifolia, 

 has long been a garden favorite in this country. This 

 double variety was developed by the gardeners of 

 Japan ; the single form is probably not cultivated 

 here. It, too, blooms early and the flowers are abun- 

 dant upon the stem ; so that the bush is extremely ef- 

 fective amid its companions. Its habit is rigid, the 

 slender stems have not the grace so characteristic of 

 many of the spiraeas. The shining leaves are oblong, 

 rounded at base, and pointed at apex, each one poised 

 with a peculiar curve. In early autumn thev turn a 

 scarlet and orange, through which there appears a 

 tone of brown in such a way as to srive a wonderful 

 depth and richness to the coloring. 



However opinions may differ in regard to other 

 species on the list, the horticultural world agrees that 

 Spircea vanhouttei is the finest of them all. It possesses 

 a remarkable beauty of form ; in bloom it stands like a 

 great white fountain ; in autumn its foliage runs through 

 a bewildering maze of rich claret, deep red with purple 

 tones, bright scarlet and orange fading to yellow. The 

 origin of the plant is not clearly known : it is generally 

 believed to have been derived from an Asiatic species, 

 Spircea triloba, which, however, is not its equal. 



There are many dwarf varieties offered bv the 

 dealers, of which one of the best is that known as 

 Anthony "Waterer's Spiraea. This bears rose-colored 

 flowers in flat corymbs, and blooms in midsummer. 

 There are also magnificent spiraeas on the Pacific 

 slope, in Washington and in Oregon, which should 

 appear among our ornamental plants either in their 

 own persons or in hybrids. 



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