Scarcely a genus of hardy shrubs is so rich and beautiful in its different species as the astilbe and spiraea. They are so numerous that many attractive sorts must be excluded from even the most liberal selection for the average sized garden. S. lo-bata - Queen of the Meadows - is one of the best hardy plants found in the meadows of Pennsylvania and westward. The handsome flowers, of a deep peach color, are produced in clustered panicles on long, naked peduncles, and under cultivation greatly improve in color and size. In making a selection for garden or border planting we should extend the flowering season as long as possible by a judicious selection of the most attractive sorts that bloom in succession. The following are among the best.

The Japanese S. Thunbergii and the double-flowered S. prunifolia are the first to unfold their blossoms. The first forms a bush with numerous branches, slender, arched shoots and lanceolate leaves, which are bright green and retain their freshness till late in the season. The flowers are like those of the hawthorns, but smaller, and are produced in such profusion that on the principal shoots but little foliage can be seen when they are in full bloom. The second usually blooms soon after the other, but is much larger and more showy, a well-grown specimen often forming a bush five or six feet high, with gracefully disposed branches, the upper parts of which are wreathed with small, double, pure white flowers of considerable substance, which are good for cutting when just about to expand. A common fault with the spiraea for cutting is that it soon falls and creates a litter. The foliage of this variety is the brightest and richest at the time of early autumn frosts.

S. arioefolia is one of the largest growing in the whole genus, often reaching a height of ten feet, forming a somewhat erect but branching shrub. It is a summer flowering sort, with white creamy flowers in open panicles. On account of their abundance and the habit of the shrub, this, when in bloom is one of the showiest varieties.

S. Douglasii is a shrubby North American species of remarkably handsome erect growth, forming a clump of densely packed shoots which are terminated by dense erect, rosy-red flowers at blooming time. The foliage is more or less tomentose, though this feature, as well as the color of the blossoms, is variable. Some of the different forms are known as tomentosa, Nobleana and Menziesi, but the best is the sturdy form with deep colored flowers".

S. callosa, a midsummer flowering sort; blooms in succession for a considerable time. The deep rose-colored blossoms are arranged in flattened corymbs, which, with the unopened buds of a deeper hue produce a very pleasing effect. The young sprouts and leaves have a pretty bright red tinge. There are several varieties of this valuable species, one being a white, and not growing over a foot high. This is the latest of all the spiraeas.

All are familiar with Spiraea (Astilbe ?) japonica, which is widely used for forcing at Easter and grown more freely by the masses than any other variety. It is perhaps the most useful of all the genus. It belongs to the herbaceous division, and when grown out of doors forms a beautiful hardy border plant two feet high with branching spikes of pure white flowers.

Cultural directions for the shrubby spiraeas are few and simple, yet like most other plants they generously respond to any special treatment suited to their needs. The great thing to guard against is a hot dry, sandy soil, in which the summer-flowering sorts are literally worthless, having a starved and unhappy appearace. If manure water can be supplied for two weeks when the buds begin to form, its effect will be seen very quickly on the opening of the flowers. As to pruning : generally speaking, the knife should not be used except to remove old wood, which should be done in July, and the idea of pruning to make good shapes must be omitted in growing spiraeas. Another point of import is to give ample room, as the plants abhor crowding and plainly resent it by their appearance. W. F. Lake.

The spiraeas of our gardens and of the Greeks, who loved to wind their flexible stems and lovely showy flowers into garlands, the meadow sweet of Old and New England, is a friend of the temperate regions, living nearer to the icy north than to the tropics. Ranging in variety from tree-like forms to those of a delicate herbaceous character; there is much to choose from, but great confusion exists in their nomenclature, and many sorts so closely resemble each other as to puzzle the most skillful botanists. The best authorities give about fifty species in the genus, but for garden purposes there are practically fewer. Soil and cultivation cause such a difference in appearance that varieties under different conditions differ as much from themselves, as far as effect in the garden goes, as do some of the species. They are easily propagated by dividing the roots, but do not like being often disturbed. Left alone in rich, moist soil, with no roots of other plants crowding them, they will rejoice our hearts and brighten our gardens in summer. Even those whose peculiar odor is distasteful as cut-flowers are delightful in the garden.

D. W.