JULY, 1908 
was driving me. ‘Why not,” I retorted, 
“when I see a bush that is as celebrated for 
its beauty as for the fact that it is hardy in 
Massachusetts, though growing wild only 
in Alabama?” The unique character of 
this shrub is that it has no petals, its showi- 
ness being due to the clusters of white fila- 
ments that fringe the arching, wand-like 
branches in such a way as to justify the name 
of snow wreath. I admit that there are 
more floriferous white-flowered bushes, but 
surely there must be some one who will care 
enough for its unique beauty to keep it from 
being exterminated. Another good feature 
is the yellow foliage in autumn. 
The special interest of the Stephanandra 
is that its autumn foliage assumes brilliant 
colors, which is very uncommon in the Spirea 
tribe. S. flexuosa becomes reddish purple 
while S. Tanake runs more to orange and 
yellow. Both are five-foot Japanese shrubs 
having small clusters of small white flowers 
in June. The former is admired for its 
zigzag branches and the reddish tints in the 
foliage in early spring. 
The unique merit of Neillia is that it is 
probably the latest member of the Spirea 
tribe to bloom, since it flowers in the Middle 
States in August or September. Rehder 
praises its bright green foliage. It isa native 
of the Himalayas and therefore not hardy 
in the North. In the Middle States it grows 
only two feet high, being killed to the ground 
each winter, but it springs up and blooms 
each year. In the South it attains six feet. 
The only member of the Spirza tribe with 
evergreen foliage is Adenostoma, a heath- 
like bush, generally about three feet high, 
which is the characteristic bush in the chap- 
arral region of California. Rehder says it 
is very showy in May or June when in full 
bloom, and that it may be cultivated in 
temperate regions, if given good drainage 
and full sunshine. 
Here endeth the tale of the shrubby spireas. 
Some time I hope to describe the loveliest of 
the herbaceous kinds. Anyone who cares 
for a botanical key to all these genera will 
find it in the fourth edition of the “ Cyclo- 
pedia of American Horticulture,” at page 23. 
The Two Annual Larkspurs 
HE main distinction between the two 
annual larkspurs is that D. con- 
solida branches from the base while D. 
Ajacis is unbranched except at the top. 
The former is called the branched larkspur 
and the latter the rocket larkspur. The 
branched species has the longer spurs, but 
the rocket has longer and denser spikes. 
The chief botanical distinction is that the 
pistils of the rocket are pubescent, while 
those of the branched larkspur are glabrous. 
The German seed growers offer sixty- 
eight varieties of annual larkspurs — all 
double. The chief strains are the rocket, 
hyacinth, ranunculus, stock, candelabrum 
and Emperor or imperial. The distinc- 
tions between these strains are not stated 
in the books or catalogues. According to 
William Robinson, the rockets have spikes 
that are rounded off at the top while those 
THE GARDEN MAGAZINE 
of the hyacinth strain taper. One would 
naturally suppose from the names that 
the opposite would be true. The ranun- 
culus and stock-flowered strains are referred 
to D. Ajacis by Robinson, and the candela- 
brum and Emperor to D. consolida. The 
tall strains attain three to four and one- 
half feet; the dwarfs twenty to twenty-four 
inches. 
The chief colors are white, rose, lilac, 
violet, and blue, but the Germans also claim 
to have brick red, and even carmine. Alto- 
gether about eighteen shades. 
Both the annual species have finely cut 
leaves, i.e., they are many times parted into 
linear segments, as are also grandiflorum 
and the hybridum of botanists — both 
perennial species. 
Annual larkspurs have a shorter season 
of bloom but wider range of colors than the 
perennials. I fancy the main inducement 
to grow them is that seeds cost less. than 
plants. On the other hand, annuals are 
more bother, because they have to be sown 
every year, and such plants do not have the 
height or dignity of the more permanent 
perennials. The annual larkspurs should 
be sown where the plants are to remain and 
these should be thinned to five inches apart. 
New York. W. M. 
Mid-summer Work in the 
Garden 
A ae is usually the driest month of the 
year with us and many of the flowers 
will have to be watered one to three times a 
week. Do this late in the evening and the 
best method is to run the water in a shallow 
trench made a few inches from the plants. 
Green grass spread over the surface of the 
soil around the plants will assist in holding 
the moisture in the soil. 
Continue to sow asters for fall bloom, and 
in order to get flowers of large size, select 
a spot where the soil is rich and damp. 
Portulaca must be sown before the first 
of the month or very early thereafter in rich, 
sandy soil where the plants will have full 
sunlight. They will be in flower in 
September. 
Give the chrysanthemum plants a good 
dressing of well-decayed cow manure during 
the month, and your reward will be larger 
and better flowers in November. 
Sow marigolds early in July in rich soil 
for large flowers in September and October. 
Sow nasturtium now for blossoms the last 
of September. 
337 
During the early part of the month plant 
cucumbers for pickling. Cumberland 
Pickling, Fordhook Pickling and Green 
Clusters are the best varieties for the purpose. 
Sow rutabaga any time this month. 
They would not succeed well if planted after 
the first of August, as the seed would not 
germinate then owing to the hot, dry 
weather, and the season would be too short 
for them to make their full growth. 
Plant early Irish potatoes now for a late 
crop. Early Rose, Bliss Early, Red 
Triumph and White Triumph are the best 
varieties for southern cultivation. 
Cabbage can be sown any time during 
the month and will be ready to eat during 
October and November. Keep the seed- 
bed shaded and well supplied with water 
until the plants are well started. 
Sow beans, squash, and early corn through- 
out the month at any time when the soil 
is a little moist but not wet. Soak the seed 
in water for several hours before planting to 
insure quick germination. Seed sown now 
will produce vegetables for the table in 
September. 
By continuing to set out cuttings from 
the old tomato plants from now until the 
last of the month, fruit will be had from 
September until frost. 
Keep up the cultivation of the cotton 
throughout the month and if the seasons 
are favorable it will continue to grow and 
fruit. 
The corn grown for the main crop should 
receive its last cultivation this month. 
This is also an excellent time for budding 
fruits, and directions for this work were 
given in THE GARDEN MaAcGaAziIne for 
August, 1907, page 24. 
Georgia. THomas J. STEED. 
House Piants in Summer 
AST summer, when riding through 
the country with a photographer, 
I noticed the pretty little picture which is 
here reproduced. These house plants were 
outdoors for the summer and seemed to 
enjoy life immensely beneath the old apple 
tree in the farmer’s front yard in Connecticut. 
I have no doubt they will be hardier and 
better prepared to go through the winter 
than if kept indoors all summer. 
New Jersey. Tice 
i ss a 
During summer build up the strength of the house 
plants by putting them outdoors in shade 
