March 27—Two species of the Spiraea are now commencing to bloom in the shrubbery and add their beauty to that of the forsythia, They are both grown for the handsome ap. pearance of their slender stems covered with tumbles of single or double white flowers, They fare. very ornamental plants and fully deserve their common name of "Bridal Wreath": the Jgenerie name. was derived from speira a band of wreath, and it was given by the Greeks to the plant' oWing to its usefulness. for garland making. There are many people who cannot Jquite Understand why our shrubby plants are Feferred {0 as splrzeas; they have known Jdifferent kind. of plant under that name. [many parts of England, a low.growing plan producing numerous small pure while Mowers fin. branching panicles is known as a_spirmea: the same planta, blooming in pots, are also procurable in English florists' shops early in the year. Most of the varieties bear white plume-like flower spikes, but there is a pink vanely that was a great favourite. This plant, Enown as a spirea, Is—bolanieally speaking Jan Astilbe; the dwarf varieties are not very happy in our climate, they do not (rive like they do in other countries. However, there are some that are native to West Ching and these will grow here, but they are chiefly tall-growing species, One of the."Bridal Wreaths" at present in ower is Spircea prunifolia flora. pleno, this is the species with small double Rowers, about a quarter of an inch in dis. meter; the graceful stems of this plant are [vers attractive despite the fact that the flowers fare not so numerous os those of the single-Mowered Spiraea thunbergil, whose gracefully arching branches are a mass of bloom. Both species are ideal for house decoration—W.K.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.