384 FLORA IlISTORICA. 



This rustic flower adds considerably to the em- 

 bellishment of the autumnal garden, for its hardy 

 nature suits it to every soil and situation, and when 

 left undisturbed for a few years, it sends up such 

 numerous branches that it bears more the appear- 

 ance of a large shrub than a flowering herb: on this 

 account it is admirably adapted to mix in planta- 

 tions of evergreen shrubs, where its lilac flowers 

 add as much gaiety in the months of October and 

 November, as the early-flowering shrubs contribute 

 towards the beautifying of the spring assemblage. 



Of the utility of this American Aster we as yet 

 know nothing further than that it affbrds the bees a 

 late and almost a last resource ; and we may con- 

 clude that these flowers contain a considerable quan- 

 tity of honey, since we have frequently seen the 

 corollas so thickly covered with these emblems of 

 industry, that the flowers seemed to have wings 

 attached to their petals. Thus the bees have their 

 season for collecting of sweets considerably length- 

 ened by the introduction of this and other plants of 

 the Columbian fields ; whilst we, by retaining the 

 smiles of Flora on our parterres, lessen the dreari- 

 ness of the winter months — for previous to the in- 

 troduction of exotic plants, our floral season ended 

 much earher than at present : October and Novem- 

 ber now present us with a variety of gay flowers, 

 formerly 



