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THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA. 



freely in every garden. It is by far the best of the spring 

 flowering kinds, bound to become very popular with 

 garden and flower lovers. 



Endeavoring to keep down th6 long list of branching 

 medium high summer and early fall asters, I omit old 

 varieties superseded by later introductions. The bushy 

 compact growth of the new Aster amellus varieties, re- 

 quiring little or no support, is of great advantage. Liter- 

 ally covered with their wealth of blossoms they prove 

 an excellent material for very attractive mass effects dur- 



AMONG THE MICH.XELMA;: 

 ie varieties Aster Lil Fardel, a 

 a Feltham Blue. 



D.MSIES, 



laevis floribimda, :tnd 



ing August and the early part of September. Beaute 

 parfaite appears under the cloud of clear blue ; Fraiufieldi 

 forms large dark blue panicles, while Perle rose. Perry's 

 Favorite, Rosalinde and Schoene von Ronsdorf may be 

 mentioned as the best pink shades. Srikingly beautiful 

 in rich blue are Goos and Koenemanns' new introduc- 

 tions Aster ibericus, Ultramarin and Aster amellus pre- 

 ziosa, both being about 20 inches high, of dense even 

 growth and marvelously free flowering. 



The long and patient work of farsighted growers and 

 hybridizers aiming for a higher standard of tall and me- 

 dium high fall asters is largely responsible for their 

 growing popularity. As desirable acquisitions amoiiL; 

 recent introduction I recommend Beauty of Colwall, . 

 double variety, 4 to 4J4 feet high, clear lavender ; Venn 

 medium, tall single lavender; the extremely handsonii 

 pink debutants Abendroete, Dornroeschen and Schoen 

 Rottraut, and the white sorts Boule de Neige and White 

 Queen. 



The list of the tall c"r(.)win"- Novae anslae and Novae 



Belgii classes is bewildering in length. (Jf those free 

 flowering varieties which by color and size of blossoms 

 prove of extraordinary value for massing, I call atten- 

 tion to the pink-shaded and rosy purple Aster Novae 

 .-\nglae, Lil Fardel, Mrs. F. W. Raynor, rosea and 

 rubra. Feltham Blue, laevis, laevis floribunda and Wil- 

 liam Bowman represent the best types in bluish tints. 



In conclusion I wish to call attention to a few of the 

 small flowering asters. Their waves of long, thin sway- 

 ing sprays of little star-shaped blossoms possess a charm 

 of their own. It is the class which very few gardeners 

 know, and yet, a class offering wonderful opportunities 

 for surprisingly beautiful effects, when employed the 

 right way. My advice is, get acquainted with the white 

 puny Aster ericoides, A. difi^usus Datchii and A. vim- 

 ineus. -Study and enjoy the incomparable gracefulness 

 of the habit of growth of the Aster cordifolius varieties. 

 If you have an eye for decorative garden planting at all, 

 you will detect more than one chance to use them in your 

 garden. As a material par excellence for artistic ar- 

 rangement of vases, the light sprays of the pale lavender 

 and delicate blue blossoms of the species Aster cordi- 

 folius are invaluable. Special mention is due to the fol- 

 lowing sorts : Bluetenregen, dense growth, bedecked 

 w ith myriads of little pale lavender blossoms, height 3 

 Kct ; Spruehlicht, same height as former, remarkable 

 ircc branching, blossoms light blue ; cordifolius elegans, 

 2-.5 feet high, freely branching, habit and floriferousness 

 depicted in our illustration, color, a beautiful light rosy 

 lax'ender. The best for the outer edge of plantations is 



ASTER WHITE QUEEN. 



ASTER CORDIFOLINS. 



Aster cordifolius "Photograph," 1-2 feet high, produc- 

 ing a wave of rosy lavender color early in October. 



The last of the Michaelmas daisies to flower is the new 

 Aster grandiflorus, distinguished by very attractive dark 

 bluish-violet blossoms, frequently measuring 2 inches 

 across. In bloom late in October and early November, 

 specimens can be lifted and advantageously employed for 

 indoor decoration. 



Alpine asters are easily raised from seed sown in 

 si)ring. .Seedlings do not flower until the second year. 

 Plantations need leaf-covering during winter. They 

 thrive best in high locations with light, but enriched soil. 

 Garden varieties of all the other classes, after being estab- 

 lished, require a minimum of care. Avoid hot arid 

 slopes. To bring out the full efi'ect of the improved 

 large-flowering hybrids necessitates well prepared and 

 richly manured ground, besides properly staking and 

 irrigating of plantations. Stock of those asters should 

 be purchased true to color and variety as plants only. 

 Propa.gation by division of old plants, or by cuttings, if 

 larger quantity is wanted. 



