ASTER. 
later name of A. Athoa. And such is the beauty of this, and such is 
the obscurity of modern horticulture, darkened with a multitude of 
counsel, that we must even confess to a secret doubt as to whether the 
genuine A. arcadiensis is now anywhere in cultivation at all, or whether 
it is in all gardens represented by the beautiful A. Athoa (or A. suberosa), 
under whose name it purports to be sent out. 
Aster.—This vast race has given some superb species to the rock- 
garden, and offers at least as many more. But at the same time the 
race also abounds in the most dim, dismal, and gawky weeds, one of 
the worst weaknesses in the big wild Asters being the tendency of their 
purples to degenerate into a faint dead shade that from a little distance 
looks as if they were of an inferior grey. This fault has been to a 
certain extent remedied in the case of the gorgeous garden-race of 
Michaelmas Daisies, which rank among the most precious of herbaceous 
stuff. These, however, can at will be chosen from catalogues, or, 
even better, picked out for oneself at shows. Their place, too, is in 
the border only. But in the big rock-garden there are many big 
Asters to be hankered for, even of the larger habit; and many en- 
thusiasts who would there like to grow the best of the wild true species, 
if they could make sure what these were. In this attempt, however, 
catalogues give no help, but merely quote the several names of species 
almost without comment, or with the one word “ Blue,” which in the 
case of Aster merely illuminates darkness, seeing the enormous range 
of pallid tones which that charitably all-embracing word is made to 
cover. Therefore, though it would be excessive labour ill spent, 
botanically to describe the wild Asters of the Northern and Central 
United States, my aim will be, as soon as I have dealt in more 
ample detail with the lovely rock species that deserve such honour, 
cursorily to indicate the strength or weakness of some of the rest ; 
though it will of course be found that in the select list there will occur 
some species that have no right there, but ought to go into the second 
class; while in the second there are obviously several magnificent or 
well-known treasures that should be moved up into the first. And, with 
regard to the culture of all these, indeed, and propagation, there is 
as a rule only excessive easiness, Asters turning into weeds on the very 
smallest provocation. (See Appendix for Asters of Kansu-Tibet.) 
A. acris, like good wine, needs no bush, but forms the loveliest 
of all for itself, of stems about 3 feet high, with fine narrow leaves and 
glorious thick showers of countless small few-rayed flowers, bright 
violet-blue, of an elegance and airy charm quite irresistible anywhere— 
a universal August-joy in the garden, from the South of Europe. 
A. alpinus, abundant at alpine elevations of all the European 
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