286 
described as purple. So far as I know it is 
the only conical-clustered spirea that does 
not spread by suckers. It will grow only 
in peaty or sandy soil. It attains about 
four feet and is found wild from Canada 
to Georgia. 
UI—THOSE WITH INTERMEDIATE CLUSTERS 
The third and last group of summer- 
blooming spireas comprises the hybrids 
between the flat and the conical-clustered 
“species, producing a cluster about as broad 
as high. If I were a European nurseryman 
I should try to cross the flat pink cluster 
of the Chinese spirea with the pink cone of 
the Pacific Coast species and’ the common 
white meadowsweet of Europe (in other 
words, Japonica, Douglasi, salicifolia) in 
the hope of getting one of those great fluffy 
pyramids that are the glory of the tall 
spireas (such as the ash-leaved S. sorbifolia). 
If I got anything valuable I should say 
nothing about the parentage of these hybrids, 
and of course I should not be guilty of 
mentioning my ideals. (Ideals have no 
place in horticulture. The only information 
to which the public is entitled is prices and 
the kind of hairs on the calyx.) 
The most beautiful white-flowered hybrid 
yet secured in this third group, so far as I 
know, is S. Fontenayst. It has perhaps the 
smallest clusters, these being only two or 
three inches long, but their color and what- 
ever elongation they possess is probably 
derived from the European meadowsweet. 
This Fontenay hybrid has the grace of the 
spring-blooming spireas, getting this char- 
acter and its tenderness from that gray- - 
leaved Himalayan spirea which I said 
combined summer-bloom with spring grace 
(S. canescens). This grace is largely due 
to the clusters being borne on lateral branch- 
lets, while the following hybrids have the 
terminal clusters of the regular summer- 
bloomers. Iam afraid this Fontenay hybrid 
is only for the South. 
Which is the finest pink hybrid among 
those with intermediate clusters I cannot 
say. Only those who can get fine collections 
of living plants are in a position to tell, 
and they never leave a record in horticul- 
tural literature. (For to talk about such 
things is the very life and soul of gardening, 
but to put them in print is bad form. The 
only proper course is to describe in alpha- 
betical order all the rare kinds that you 
possess with the driest botany you can crib 
from Nicholson’s Dictionary, being careful 
to avoid aJl taint of the comparative spirit.) 
However, the only ones I find offered in 
America to-day are S. semperflorens and 
Regeliana. I can tell you anything you 
care to ask about the leaves, teeth, hairs, 
or follicles, but whether they are any good 
or not I cannot say, because, forsooth, 
these are only matters of opinion and taste, 
and quite beneath the attention of the 
botanist. 
CULTURE OF SUMMER SPIREAS 
The culture of summer spireas is simplicity 
itself. They can be planted either in spring 
or fall. The purple-tipped spirea is some- 
THE GARDEN MAGAZINE 
times killed to the ground in the North, 
but this is no matter for it will recover and 
bloom the first season. The conical clustered 
kinds appreciate a more abundant water 
supply during the growing season than 
ordinary shrubs. The flower heads should 
be cut off as soon as they become unsightly. 
They do not produce their flowers all at 
once like the spring-bloomers but will 
blossom freely through July and August 
if well-fed, well watered, and well cut. The 
time to prune them is while they are dormant, 
preferably early spring. ‘Those that make 
terminal clusters on this years’ wood can be 
cut back severely, if desired, but those 
which bloom laterally on branchlets pro- 
ceeding from last year’s wood ought never 
to be cut back, as it ruins their arching grace 
and makes them stubby. ‘The only pruning 
they need is cutting out weak shoots and 
thinning the crowded places. 
The illustrations for this article were all 
made at Highland Park, Rochester, N. Y. 
(Next month, I should like to describe 
some really interesting spireas —the tall 
kinds, which the botanists have thrown out 
of the genus entirely, and given particularly 
hard names; but they have the biggest and 
fluffiest flower-clusters in the whole lot and 
anybody can grow them.) 
The BACK YARD: 
= 
An Aid to Tidiness 
E HAVE found when working in our 
city back yard that it is absolutely 
necessary to have a box for garden refuse, 
a barrel for liquid fertilizer and what we 
call a “hired man’”—an ugly combination, 
but at the same time a very useful one. 
The garden refuse box is most convenient 
as a temporary receptacle for leaves, weeds, 
al : 
WNeatness in the back yard is assured by having a 
handy covered box to receive paper, etc. 
JUNE, 1908 
papers, and other litter which one finds 
daily in the garden. ‘ 
The barrel is used in the early spring 
for dissolving nitrate of soda which we apply 
to the lawn as soon as the grass starts. 
This is used in the proportion of half an 
The handle of the garden fork is a practical substitute 
for the hired man in holding the hose 
ounce of soda to a gallon of water. The 
barrel is useful later in the season for making 
liquid manure for the roses. This is 
made of one-third of cow manure and two- 
thirds water, which is allowed to stand 
for a few days before using. Dilute to 
about one-half the strength or until it is 
the color of strong tea, and apply when 
the ground is wet so as not to burn the 
roots. We also use it on the lawn and on 
all well-established plants, except begonias. 
For roses use two quarts of fertilizer to a plant 
every week from the time the buds appear 
until they show color. It is well to put a 
little Paris green into the barrel to kill 
whatever insects may be in the manure. 
Also sprinkle kerosene on the surface of 
the water to prevent mosquitoes from 
breeding. The head of the barrel is used 
as a cover. 
The “hired man” is the garden fork 
which can hold the hose as well as most men 
and does not “‘soldier,” talk back, or trample 
down the seedlings. In this respect it is 
the best labor saver I have ever found. 
Rhode Island. H. Howarp PEppPER. 
Good Quality in Beans 
UALITY in beans, other than the re- 
spective merits of the varieties and 
adaptation to situation, etc., depends upon 
a quick, strong growth of the plant, so that 
the pods are developed without any check. 
The plant is a gross feeder, and to secure 
a quick, strong growth with any of the types, 
the soil must be made rich with liberal quan- 
tities of manure, compost, or a high-grade 
commercial fertilizer. The soil must be kept 
constantly loose, fine, and open by frequent 
workings with the hoe or cultivator, but care 
must be taken not to throw the wet earth 
against the pods. 
Penn. EDD 
