THE WILLOW LEAVED SPIRiEA. 209 



Jenisea, and in the country beyond the lake 

 Baikal 



It seems to love the soil of this country, as 

 it has by some accident crept out of the gar- 

 den into our hedgerows, where it has been 

 found in Westmoreland, in many places on 

 the borders of Winandermere, and also be- 

 tween Pooldridge and Colthouse, near Hawks- 

 head, Cumberland, and in a wood at Hafod, 

 Cardiganshire. From these circumstances 

 some authors have supposed the spiraea sali- 

 cifolia was a native of this country, but 

 this opinion is refuted by the plant itself, 

 which seldom or ever perfects its seed in this 

 island, even under the most favourable cir- 

 cumstances of cultivation. It is increased 

 rapidly in moist situations by suckers, and its 

 whole height is one year's growth from the 

 root, like the stalks of the raspberry plant. 

 In rich ground the shoots are often five or 

 six feet high, but in moderate soil not above 

 three or four feet. The leaves are set alter- 

 nately on the rods, and are of a bright green, 

 and therefore should be planted with ever- 

 greens of a dark shade, which heighten the 

 effect of the spikes or clusters of little flowers 

 that form a conical top to each branch ; and 

 as the numerous stamens stand out much 

 beyond the petals, and are of the same pink 



VOL. II. p 



