1 66 MANURES FOR FRUIT TREES 



Spiraea {Spircea ulmaria, meadow-sweet, 

 Natural Order, Eosacese) is a hardy deciduous 

 shrub. It grows in ordinary rich soils. 



The ashes of Spiraea contain in 100 parts : — 



Spircea opulifolia lutea has yellow foliage which 

 is a contrast to darker leaves. Spircea aricefolia 

 has large panicles of white flowers, and is an 

 excellent shrub ; S. opulus aurea is a magnificent 

 gold-leaved variety, S. Bumalda is a lovely rose- 

 coloured variety, and S. callosa bears beautiful 

 pink flowers. 



Concerning the evolution of the colours of 

 flowers, it appears that yellow was the colour of 

 the first flowers, and then they developed the tints 

 of orange, red, blue, and purple, in the order 

 named. Being in their earlier stages very simple 

 in construction, their need of pollen carriers was 

 filled by ordinary insects ; but as they grew in 

 complexity of form and richness of colour, the bee 

 and the butterfly were called into being in order 



