82 THE BOOK OF THE WILD GARDEN 



Spiraa. — This race of plants delights in moist soil and 

 the proximity of water. Herbaceous and shrubby 

 species have both been treated of in earlier chapters. 



Thalictrum, — In addition to T. aquilegifolium, previously 

 mentioned, the British Fern Rue, 7. jftavum, may be 

 encouraged in the neighbourhood of water. 



Trol/ius. — Globe Flower. The pale yellow 7. 

 europaus is a native of our islands. Other attractive 

 species are the pale orange 7. altaicus, the orange 71 

 asiaticus and the yellow 7. cancasicus* A very handsome, 

 lately-introduced variety, and the best of the Globe 

 Flowers is Orange Globe> bearing very large blossoms 

 of a deep orange tint. They grow to a height of from 

 eighteen inches to two feet, flower in the summer, and 

 thrive by the waterside. 



Willow. — This tree can scarcely be omitted in writing 

 of the beautifying of water-margins. Some are attrac- 

 tive on account of their catkins, borne in the early 

 spring, some by reason of the bright colouring of their 

 stems, so striking in the winter sun when their branches 

 are bare of leaves, and others from their graceful habit. 

 Of the latter the Weeping Willow, Salix babylonica, is 

 a good example, S. elegantissima being another handsome 

 tree with pendulous branches. The Cardinal Willow 

 and Golden Willow are unsurpassed in the glowing red 

 and yellow of their twigs, and S. caprea is valuable for 

 its downy plush-like catkins. 



