CHINA ASTER. 349 



disposed ibat they I'ival the riehest patterns of the 

 carpets of Persia, or the most curious figures tliat 

 the artist in tillaaree can devise — see these reflected 

 in the liquid niiri-or below, and some idea of the en- 

 chanting ajipcarancc which these brilliant stars are 

 thus made to produce in the gardens of China may 

 be conceived. 



In no part of the globe is the culture of plants so 

 generally understood as in Great Britain, but we 

 pay too little attention to the manner of disposing 

 flowers in orcneral. After havlno^ raised them with 

 the greatest care, they are frequently planted in the 

 most careless manner, and without the least attention 

 to general harmony or design of any kind. A vacant 

 spot is to be filled, and no thought is given how the 

 colour of one flower may be made to assist or di- 

 minish the lustre of the neighbouring plants. This 

 is a matter of chance ; and as well might we expect 

 to see a beautiful picture produced by throwing a 

 quantity of gay colours promiscuously on a pannel, 

 as expect a good arrangement of flowers without 

 trouble or attention in their planting. 



When the seed of the China Aster cannot be de- 

 pended on as to what coloured flower it may pro- 

 duce, the plants should be kept in a nursery-bed 

 until the first flower is expanded sufliciently to as- 

 certain its hue; and then with a transplanting spade 

 they may be removed to such parts of the parterre 



