416 FLORA HISTORTCA. 



for previous to the introduction of exotic plants, 

 our floral season ended much earlier than at 

 present; October and November now present 

 us v^ith a variety of gay flowers, formerly 



" All green was vaiiisli'd, save of Pine and Yew, 

 That Glill display' d their melancholy hue ; 

 Save the g-reen Holly, with its berries red, 

 And the green Moss, that o'er the gravel spread." 



The gloom of heavy masses of dark ever- 

 greens may be lessened by clumps of the Mi- 

 chaelmas Daisies ; and they are not the less de- 

 sirable from their requiring no farther care than 

 that of once planting them, and one large root 

 may be divided into so many plants that the ex- 

 pense of embellishing a large plantation with 

 these flowers, is not more than the price of a 

 single root of some plants of less beauty, but 

 later introduction. 



The Common Michaelmas Daisy grows from 

 three to five feet in height, and is therefore not cal- 

 culated for the small flower-garden, excepting to 

 form a shelter and back-ground to more tender 

 autumnal flowers. The dwarf variety of this 

 plant produces smaller flowers, which are of a 

 darker purple; this latter kind contrasts well 

 with the Golden-rod, and may be planted amongst 

 shrubs with a variegated foliage. 



