THE GREATER BOG-PLANTS 175 



delicate spires of white. Though perfectly vigorous and 

 healthy, it is rather more impatient of sunshine than its 

 kindred, and will do you better, and show you finer 

 spikes, if you plant it where the blaze is not excessive. 



The Astilbes have not even this faint want ; they thrive 

 anywhere in cool soil— herbaceous Spiraeas in all but 

 name, prolific of the usual bending plumes of white or 

 pink. I cannot enter upon the minute diflFerentiation of 

 Astilbe, Spiraea, and Aruncus ; if the lover of the race 

 remembers it altogether as Spiraea, he will be wise 

 enough for all ordinary purposes. Astilbe rivularis, 

 Spiraea astilboeides are both lovely, easy ornaments of 

 bog or water-side; tall, airy, stately are the hybrid 

 Astilbes, Nuee Rose and Silver Sheaf — whose names 

 describe them — enlarged, glorified versions as they are of 

 rivularis. Nuee Rose has a soft, appealing shade, but in 

 the cousinhood of Japonica by far the best pinks are 

 given us by the two new varieties of japonica itself, 

 which are called respectively Peach-blossom and Queen 

 Alexandra — and of which the Queen is infinitely the 

 better, as she should be, — tall, rosy, perfectly graceful and 

 noble. Both kinds, though, bear large profuse feathers 

 of the loveliest, tenderest rose, superior to almost every 

 other colour in the race. Nor must I leave out, for 

 loyalty's sake, Japonica Mr. Gladstone, a magnified form 

 of the type, carrying glorified spikes of pure white. 

 As for Aruncus Sylvester from Japan, this is a close 

 cousin of Spiraea Aruncus, producing, on tall, loose stems, 

 long sheaves of white or pale pink. 



Astilbe Davidii is new enough and still r'are enough 

 for the glory of a separate paragraph. Its rarity, 

 however, will not long continue, as it seeds so faithfully 

 and generously. Further, it grows, thrives, increases like 

 the most vigorous of its kind in any cool soil, in any 

 exposure — a most notable, splendid introduction from the 



