COMPOSITAE 123 
the orders nearest to it. But Pterocephalus (or Scabiosa) 
Parnassi is a neat and very pretty little Eastern Alpine, 
with mounds of greyish leaves, and purply Scabious 
flowers hovering freely over them on short stems. An- 
other Pterocephalus which I tried from seed has not 
turned out very well. The Scabiouses themselves are 
useful rather than distinguished. But cawcasica is cer- 
tainly pretty, and so is japonica, in a bold way, with big 
flowers of a really lovely soft lavender-blue. 
In all the world there is not another such enormous 
race as that of the Composite Flowers, whose three 
branches are aptly typified by three of our commonest 
weeds, the Daisy, the Dandelion and the Thistle—so that 
when even Mr. Robinson admits that in this family one 
has to wade through ‘innumerable gawky weeds’ before 
coming to any good garden species, it will be understood 
how low stands the general level of beauty in this vast 
and unprofitable clan. Weeds are the Compositae, one 
and almost all; and as weeds they will flourish one and 
all in any open reasonable treatment. If any plant has 
to be excepted from this rule of easy culture, it will 
almost always be on account of some fad about climate. 
But, if the generality of Composites are dull, graceless, 
and stupid, the comparatively few species that have merit 
have a good deal. Let me not be thought ungrateful or 
flippant about the beauties of the beautiful Composites. 
When you get them they nearly redeem, and quite obli- 
terate, one’s memory of their plain relations. Of useful 
plants in this race Aster alpinus, I think, easily heads 
the list. And a vast number of Asters, I must first 
record, are coarse leafy things, washy and poor in colour, 
and rank in growth. But the brilliant ones are brilliant 
indeed. I have a great love for Aster pyrenacus. And 
then there are species like cassiarabicus, kabulcus, F're- 
monti, and T'ownsendi—medium kinds, pleasant and 
