GARDEN FLOWERS. 53 



(New England) ; hardy perennial ; 5 feet ; flowers purple, in Sep- 

 tember ; North America ; 1710. A^ pulcherriinus (prettiest); 

 hardy perennial ; 9 inches ; flowers purple, in August ; North 

 America ; 1 800. 



There are more than a hundred and fifty other species. 



AsTEROCEPHALUS. [Dipsaceas.] Hardy annuals and per- 

 ennials, including the well-known Sweet Scabious, or Mourn- 

 ing Bride. The seeds of this are sown in the flower-bor- 

 ders in May, and merely thinned out when the plants come 

 up, or in a hot-bed, and transplanted. The perennial spe- 

 cies are of easy culture in common garden soil, and increase 

 by division. 



A. atropurpureus (Sweet Scabious) ; hardy annual ; 2 feet ; 

 flowers various colors, in July ; India. A. graviinifoliics (grass- 

 leaved) ; hardy perennial ; i foot ; flowers blue, in July ; S\Titzer- 

 land ; 1683. A. incqna (hoar}^) ; hardy perennial ; i foot ; flow- 

 ers red. in June ; Europe; 1826. A. ochroleuacs (yellowish); 

 hardy perennial ; 2 feet ; flowers pale yellow, in July ; Germany ; 

 1517. 



There are many other species. 



Astragalus. Milk Vetch. [Leguminosae.] Perennials 

 and annuals, mostly hardy, bearing papilionaceous flowers. 

 The large species are suitable for the common borders, and 

 the smaller ones for rock-work. They are increased by 

 seeds, by division, or by cuttings, according to their habit 

 It is a very numerous family, containing many species of 

 merely botanical interest. 



A. alopecuroides (fox- tail) ; hardy perennial ; rS inches ; flow- 

 ers yellow, in June ; Spain ; 1738. A. Austriaciis (Austrian) ; 

 hardy perennial ; 6 inches ; flowers pale-blue, in June ; Austria ; 

 1640. A. hypoglottis (under-tongue) ; hardy perennial ; 6 inch- 

 es ; flowers purplish-blue and white, in June ; England. A. 

 leontinus (lion's tail) ; hardy perennial ; 6 inches ; flowers blue, in 

 May ; Austria ; 1816. A. leptophyllus (fine-leaved) ; hardy per- 



