nd bushy, often in favoured places rising to the height of 12
feet, and has large clusters of purple-blue flowers that are succeeded
by small, white berries. This is a decidedly ornamental shrub, that
should be cultivated wherever a suitable place can be spared. It bears
hard pruning back with impunity, and succeeds in any light, rich, loamy
soil.

S. DULCAMARA.--Bitter Sweet, and Woody Nightshade. This is a native
plant, and one of great beauty when seen clambering over a fence, or
bank. It has long, flexuous stems, and large clusters of purple flowers,
which are made all the more conspicuous by the showy yellow anthers. The
scarlet fruit is very effective.

SOPHORA.

SOPHORA JAPONICA (_syn Styphnolobium japonicum_).--Chinese or Japanese
Pagoda-tree. China and Japan, 1763. A large deciduous tree, with elegant
pinnate foliage, and clusters of greenish-white flowers produced in
September. Leaves dark-green, and composed of about eleven leaflets. S.
japonica pendula is one of the most constant of weeping trees, and
valuable for planting in certain well-chosen spots on the lawn or in the
park.

S. TETRAPTERA.--New Zealand, 1772. This requires protection in this
country. It is a valuable species, having numerous leaflets, and bearing
racemes of very showy yellow flowers. S. tetraptera microphylla is a
smaller-leaved variety, with ten to forty pairs of leaflets, and is
known in gardens under the names of Edwardsia Macnabiana, and E.
tatraptera microphylla.

SPARTIUM.

SPARTIUM JUNCEUM (_syn S. acutifolium_).--Spanish, or Rush Broom.
Mediterranean region and Canary Isles, 1548. This resembles our common
Broom, but the slender Rush-like branches are not angular, and usually
destitute of leaves. The fragrant yellow flowers are produced abundantly
in racemes, and when at their best impart to the shrub a very striking
and beautiful appearance. For planting in poor, sandy or gravelly soils,
or amongst stones and shingle, and where only a very limited number of
shrubs could be got to grow, the Spanish Broom will be found an
excellent and valuable plant. It is a native of Southern Europe, and is
quite hardy all over the country. Propagated from seed.

SPIRAEA.

SPIRAEA BELLA.--Pretty-flowered Spiraea. Himalayas, 1820. The reddish
stems of this rather tall-growing species are of interest, and render
the plant distinct. Leaves ovate, acute, and serrated, and tomentose
beneath. Flowers in spreading corymbs of a very be