THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[February 37. 
7 
338 
I sess one or both of those qualities much more conspi- 
| cuously than the Periwinkle and the Dropwort. 
So strongly do we feel the truth of this, that we have 
applied for information to Mr. Weaver, gardener to the 
Warden of Winchester College; because his experience 
and success with our hardy border flowers is as remark- 
j able as that of any one we know; and, in reply, he has 
I furnished us with the following notes upon the Spireeas, 
I of which the Dropwort is one:— 
I This being the season that so many persons will be busy, 
j re-labelling, re-arranging, and manuring, or top dressing 
their flower borders, I would remark, that there are very 
many of our hardy border flowers, that are the better for 
not being disturbed at the root for many years. Others, on 
the contrary, require to be taken up e\ery two or three 
years and separated; whilst a third section require to be 
taken up every year, in order to keep them within appro¬ 
priate bounds. In any of these cases, if the object be to 
increase the number of plants, let the plant be taken 
entirely up, and divided into any number of suitable pieces, 
and let the soil be well pulverized, and fresh, rich soil, or 
manure, added previously to replanting. Let it also be 
borne in mind, that it is all the better if one species be 
placed where some, other species has grown, for it is like a 
change of crop. Of plants that spread out, and require taking 
up for the purpose of making them less, always choose an out¬ 
side piece to form the new plant, and never chop these kinds 
of plants round, as is often done, so as to leave the centre. 
The outer portions are always most vigorous. In these 
notes, I would first ask for attention to the following sorts 
of Spirceas, for they are very ornamental, hardy, border 
plants. 
Spiraea aruncus (Goat’s Beard S.) is a very beautiful 
plant, and a native not only of Siberia, but other parts of 
Europe, and even of Japan, and Virginia. It was introduced 
so long ago as 1033, by the eider Tradescant, and is 
described by Johnson, in his edition of Gerarde’s Herbal. 
This old plant, although so handsome, is only now and then 
seen in gardens. It is very hardy; is readily increased by 
root-division; grows from two and a half, to three and a 
half feet high; and when planted in a suitable situation, 
might remain for many years. Indeed, to take up an old 
established plant, either for the sake of moving it to another 
situation, or for division, the roots are so strong and tough, 
a grubbing axe is almost necessary. It flowers from June 
to July. Strong established plants put up an abundance of 
large flower stems, clothed with large branching or compound 
leaves, and crowned with a profusion of panicled spikes of 
white feathery flowers. These are admired by every one, 
and always eagerly sought after for bouquets. Any common, 
rich, garden soil suits it. 
S. barbata (Bearded S.) This is a little resembling the 
preceding, but very much less in its growth. It is a native 
of Nepal, introduced to this country, 1835, and often called, 
S.japonica (a name which was given it, on account of its 
introduction from Japan, by Dr. Van Sieboldtj. It had, 
however, been previously discovered in Nepal, by Dr. 
Wallich, and by him named S. barbata, in allusion to a little 
cluster of hairs which occurs at the base of each leaf-stalk. 
It grows from one and a half to two feet high, and any rich 
soil suits it. It is readily increased by root-division, and 
may remain where planted from three to five years without 
being disturbed. Its beautiful and delicate white flowers, 
and its shining green leaves, render it a perfect gem, from 
the end of May to the end of June. 
S. Filipendula (Dropwort). This is a tuberous-rooted, 
indigenous species, of which there are one or two varieties. 
The roots connected together by a thread occasioned its 
name. Both species and varieties are ornamental border 
flowers, and they may be called evergreen, as their beautiful 
fern-like root-leaves never die down. Well-established 
plants produce numerous leafless flower stems, from one 
and a half to two feet high, with fine bunches of white 
flowers. Very beautiful indeed, is the double variety, called 
filipendula pleno. I have heard of a red variety, but have 
never seen it. There is another variety, called multiplex, 
which is a stronger grower, with single whitish flowers. 
; The beautiful leaves of this species should never be cut 
i away from the plants, and once planted, it may remain in 
; the same situation for many years, but it is readily increased 
by root-division. 
S. ulmariu (Meadow Sweet.) This, which Martyn calls 
Queen of the meadows , is another indigenous species, and 
though a common plant, is pretty and sweet. There are 
two varieties of this species that are ornamental border 
flowers, namely, ulmariu pleno, or the double-flowered, and 
the other is ulmariu variegala, the golden-coloured markings 
in the leaves of which are so beautiful, as to render it a 
very desirable border plant, particularly if grown a little in 
the shade, or in a cool situation. The flowers are white, 
and similar to that of the species of which it is a variety. 
It delights in a rich garden soil, but should be taken up and 
divided every two or three years; the soil enriched, and a 
moderate sized outside piece planted again. This species 
grows from two to two and a half feet high. 
(S', lobata (Lobed-leafleted S.). This is a very beautiful 
plant, growing from two to two and a half feet high. It is 
a native of North America, and very similar to our indi¬ 
genous (S', ulmaria ; but the terminal leaflet of its loaves, is 
very different, being larger, and (i or 7 lobed. It produces 
beautiful bunchey heads of rosy-red flowers from July to 
August. The plant delights in a rich, holding soil, and 
should be taken up, and divided, and replanted, about every 
three to five years. The roots are sweet scented. 
(S', digitata (Finger-leaved S.) is another beautiful plant, 
is very nearly allied to the last mentioned, and requires the 
same treatment. Its flowers are nearly the same colour, and 
grow about the same height. 
There is another one, called S.patmala (Hand leaved S.), 
but this I have not seen, though I believe it to be very 
pretty, and much like the two preceding species. 
We shall publish similar notes monthly, or oftener. 
We can confidently recommend to the attention of our 
readers the very practical and good directions for the 
management of the poultry-yard, which we have com¬ 
menced to-day. The signature is fictitious; therefore 
we will add that the directions are from the pen of a 
lady who teaches what she has practised with success 
for years. 
This leads us to recommend to the notice of our 
readers, the new and enlarged edition of Richardson’s 
shilling volume on The Domestic Fowl. The informa¬ 
tion it contains, and the beauty x>f the numerous illus¬ 
trations, render it one of the best, as it is the cheapest, 
work upon the subject. It includes ornamental poultry, 
with their Natural History, and treatment in health and 
disease. 
GARDENING GOSSIP. 
The Balsam is very constant, generally, in the charac¬ 
ter of its seed. At a meeting of the Society for the 
Encouragement of Floriculture, the subject of seed 
sowing from this beautiful plant was brought forward, 
and some very experienced florists advocated the use of 
old seed; and reference was made to some very beautiful 
single flowers that were shown at Chiswick a few years 
ago, which were grown from four and five-year-old seed; 
but it was objected that age had not anything to do with 
the doubleness, and the varied colours were deemed to 
have been the result of natural sporting; but these were 
effects of saving from mixtures. As a proof of a disposi¬ 
tion to constancy, it was stated that from an extraordi¬ 
nary close flower, perfectly white, and as large nearly as 
a Camellia, purchased at a nursery the year before last, 
I 
