COMPOSIT.^. l6l 



Gaillardia. — This is a limited group of handsome border- 

 plants, producing large showy flowers, rather profusely and in 

 long continuance. They require rather a dry warm situation 

 and rich light loam, as they are apt to perish in heavy soils in 

 cold wet places. Where they are apt to die in winter they 

 may yet be used in mixed borders, treated as half-hardy an- 

 nuals ; for if sown in a mild hotbed in the end of February or 

 the beginning of March, they may be grown into good plants, and 

 a full display of their fine flower-heads obtained as early as 

 upon those which may have withstood the winter in the bor- 

 j^ers. They are propagated by cuttings in autumn or spring 

 in the manner of general bedding plants, and by division in 

 spring, assisted aftenvards by slight heat if the locality is a 

 cold one. 



G. aristata {Awned G.) — This species grows i foot or rather 

 more high, producing veiy freely large flower-heads, orange 

 yellow in colour, in July and onwards till October. Native of 

 North America. One of the hardiest of the group. 



G. grandiflora, G. maxima, and G. Loeselii, are all forms of 

 the same plant. The last is perhaps the best or most showy. 

 It grows 3 or 4 feet high, producing very large flower-heads, 

 coloured crimson and yellow. They appear in July, August, 

 and September. 



G. Richardsoni {Richardson's G.) — This sort grows i8 inches 

 or 2 feet high. The flower-heads are orange and large, and 

 are produced throughout the greater part of summer and 

 autumn. Native of North America, and one of the hardiest. 



Galatella. — This genus is an ofl"shoot of the extensive Star- 

 wort group, and the few species of which it is composed bear 

 considerable resemblance to some of those comprised in that 

 group. G. hyssopifolia is perhaps the most ornamental of the 

 four or five species that have been taken from Aster, and 

 grouped together under this name ; and as the general charac- 

 ter, at least for the purpose of the gardener, is the same as that 

 of Aster, it only need be described here. The others are quite 

 worthy of cultivation in extensive collections, and their names 

 may be noted now for the use of those who may wish to add 

 them to their collections. They are all in nurseries under the 

 name Aster or Galatella, but more commonly they are named 

 Aster. 



G. hyssopifolia {Hyssopdcaved G.) — This plant grows about 

 I foot or 1 8 inches high, erect at first, but the slender stems, 

 as the development of the corymb of flowers proceeds, become 

 gradually bent downwards. The leaves are very narrow, 

 linear, and roughish to the touch. The corymbs of flower 



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