150 



IRISH GAKDENING 



is equally fine and is qnite equal to some of the 

 latest novelties. Of new forms of A. Amelias 

 introduced Avithin recent years the following is a 

 fair selection : — Beaute Parfait, Avith handsome, 

 deep blue flower heads ; Fleuve Bleu, lavender 

 blue ; Madame E. Gaugin, small pink heads ; 

 Preziosa, deep violet-blue ; Perry's Favourite, 

 rose-coloured, and roseus majus, a fine large 

 flowered pink form. 



A. Isevis, a North American species, makes a 

 handsome border jilant, flowering rather later 

 than the Amellus varieties, and reaching a height 

 of about 4 feet. The leaves are smooth and 

 rather glossy, and the conspicuous flower heads 

 a good shade of blue. 



A. diffusus horizontalis is a very pretty dwarf 

 sort, very useful for cutting. As the varietal 

 name implies, the branches spread out horizon- 

 tally and are densely furnished with small 

 leaves and numerous floAver heads, the prevailmg 

 colour being white. 



A. Thomsoni is a delightful July floAvering 

 species extending into August. It comes from 

 the Himalaya, and is represented by two forms 

 apparently. Both have rather hoar}^ leaves, 

 but one grows 2 feet or more high, bearing 

 rather loose flower heads of a pale lilac ; the 

 other and better form is dwarfer with broader 

 ray florets of a deeper and more pleasing shade. 

 Both, howe\-er, are desirable plants, and should 

 have a simny position in good^ biit Avell-drained, 

 soil, and should not be disturbed. 



A. versicolor is a useful North American 

 species Avhich derives its name from the fact 

 that the flower heads vary from white to pink 

 as they expand. It is, nevertheless, a good plant 

 in the border, and makes a nice show in 

 September ajid October. 



A. vimineus is useful for the front of the 

 border, and especially for cutting, groAving only 

 about 2 feet high, of dense twiggy haliit, bearing 

 abundantly small white floAver head'^. 



Most of the other popular Michaelmas Daisies 

 are better knoAVn by their garden varieties, 

 Avhich for ornamental gardening are superior to 

 the type plants. Particular reference to the 

 species is therefore omitted except as the type 

 of each section. 



A. cordifolius v^arieties grow from 3i feet to 

 4 feet high, and are characterised by their 

 graceful habit of growth, cordate finely-toothed 

 leaves and pretty floAver sprays. Some of the 

 best are : — Albulus and Diana, white ; elegans, 

 soft lilac, and EdAvin Becket, laA'ender. A. 

 ericoides, Avith small heath-like leaves, has giA^en 

 us some very pretty garden varieties highly 

 esteemed for cutting. The flower heads are 

 small, but jiroduced in lavish abundance in ele- 

 gant sprays. A fcAv of the best are Clio, Avith small 



blush floAvers ; Delight, Avhitc ; Freedom , Avhite ; 

 Thora, white, and Sensation, pinkish- Avliite. The 

 height Agarics from 2 feet to 4 feet, the habit and 

 appearance of the different forms being more 

 apparent when seen groAving in the garden. 



One of the most delightful of all Michaelmas 

 Daisies is the Hon. Edith Gibbs, probably a 

 cordifolius form. The long graceful groAvths 

 assume a pendulous form at a height of 4 feet or 

 so, and literally sAveep down to the ground in a 

 A^eritable cascade of soft lilac flowers. Most of 

 the taller groAAnng, later flowering A'arieties are 

 the offspring of A. noA'^ai-Anglise and A. novi- 

 Belgii, the former Avith rather hairy leaA^es, and 

 the latter with smooth or glabrous foliage. 

 Most of the popular forms seem to favour A. 

 novi-Belgii in haAnng smooth leaves, but there 

 are several good kinds which it is usual to class 

 Avith the former species — notably, Lil Fardell, 

 with large rose-pink floAVers ; Mrs. J. F. Rayner, 

 rosy-red ; pulchellus, violet ; ruber, bright red, 

 Avith Ryecroft Purjile and Ryecroft Pink. Of 

 the A. novi-Belgii section there is a Avide 

 selection flowering oA^er an extended period in 

 late autumn. Possibly most of the recent new 

 varieties belong here, but it is not ahvays possible 

 to say definitely, nor is it a matter of any 

 moment provided they are good garden plants. 

 There are far too many varieties being sent out 

 annually Avhich possess but httle merit ; some 

 fcAv, hoAvever, are decided acquisitions. 



A fcAA^ of the older sorts which are still in the 

 front rank are : — Robert Parker, large lavender- 

 blue heads ; Top Sawyer, lilac ; St. Patrick, 

 silvery-grey ; Perr\^'s Pink, F. W. Burbidge, 

 rosy-heliotrope. Dwarfer forms are : — Pleiad, 

 rose-coloured ; St. Egwin, rosy-pink ; D. B. 

 Crane, lilac-blue ; and Alice, soft pink. Of the 

 ncAVer forms — Climax, a tall groAver, with large 

 clear blue heads, is very fine, and the double- 

 floAVered Beauty of Cohvall, Avith lilac- olue 

 flowers, is one of the great acquisitions. Nancy 

 Ballard is a delightful double lilao pink, Avhich 

 will be a beauty for cutting ; likeAVise Cloudy 

 Blue, another double of much ])romise. Grace 

 May Lewis is practically double, though not 

 quite so full as Beauty of Col wall, and is of a 

 good deep lilac shade ; Lady Lloyd is a good 

 clear single rose, and Rosy Morn is a delightful 

 colour, and apparently dAA'arf in habit, floAvering 

 here a))out 3 feet high. Jupiter, a large floAvered, 

 semi-double, soft lilac, is good, likeAVise Neptune 

 in the same way, but paler in colour. 



GroAvers who specialise in Michaelmas Daisies 

 AVill know of scores of other A-'arieties, but feAV 

 gardens can accommodate cA'en half of them ; 

 it is AVell then to see as many as possible and 

 groAV just those that appeal to the individual 

 concerned. G<5od cultivation makes all the 



