All the Soldanellas love a vegetable soil, as peat or leaf mould, to which, when under cultivation, a liberal quantity of sand should be added. If grown in pots, they make lovely specimens, and should be plunged in sand and kept moist; but I find my specimens to grow much more vigorously when planted out, as they are at the base of a small rockery, rather below the level of the neighbouring walk, which forms a miniature watershed for the supply of moisture. I also fancy the liverwort, which surrounds them, rather helps them than otherwise. Certain I am, however, that moisture is the great desideratum in the culture of this genus. My difficulty with the planted-out specimens is to keep them from being grazed off by the slugs; a dash of silver sand every day or two has sometimes proved of use. When the Soldanellas once get into proper quarters they make rapid growth; I have divided them most successfully in April and May.
Fig. 98. Soldanella Montana.
(One-half natural size.)
Flowering period, March to May.
Spiræa Palmata.
Palm-like Spiræa; Nat. Ord. Rosaceæ.
Fig. 99. Spiræa Palmata.
(One-eighth natural size.)
A bold and handsome species from China, imported about sixty years ago. It is perfectly hardy, though, generally grown in pots and under glass. It belongs to the herbaceous section, and I may as well state at once that the Spiræas—more especially the herbaceous kinds—are only decorative when in flower, by which I wish to convey the idea that after they have done flowering, from their abundant foliage, which then begins to turn sere and ragged, they become unsightly if planted in conspicuous parts. Still, their flowers and general habit are both rich and handsome when in their prime, and they are certainly worth growing, especially by those who have large gardens, where they can be planted in large patches in some of the less frequented parts.