ooo 



Agricultural Experiment Station, Ithaca, N. Y. 



Another type of (juilled aster is represented by the button-headed 



German Quilled, with its scant fringe or short rays (Fig. 43). The 



best form of this is the I3etteridge, an improved strain with large 



flowers. 



Amongst the curious asters arejthe Crown or Corcardeau, with a 



rim of dark color and a center of white or light shades (Figs. 44, 45), 



the Harlequin or party-colored, and the many miniature or tufted 



42.— Victoria Needle. 



sorts, some of which grow only three or four inches high, and bear 

 a close bunch of small dense flowers (see Fig. 47). The very dwarf 

 types are stiff and bunchy, but they are often used for borders, and 

 the plants can be lifted on the approach of frost and put in pots, 

 where they will continue to hold their flowers for three or four 

 weeks. 



It is impossible to construct a satisfactory classification of the 

 China asters. It is no longer practicable to classify the varieties by 

 color. Neither is it feasible to classify them upon habit or stature 

 of plant, for several of the best marked types run into both tall and 

 dwarf forms. Vilmorin, however, still divides the varieties into 

 two groups, the pyramidal growers, and the non-pyramidal growers.* 

 The most elaborate classification is that proposed by Barron, from a 

 study of extensive tests made at Chiswick, England. f Mr. Barron 



* Les Fleurs de Pleine Terre, 4th ed. 856 (1894). 



t Journal Roy. Hort. Soc. xi, part i, 15 (1889) ; xu, part ii, 401 (1890). 



