308 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



greet the eye, just as fresh as the first ones. Pick great handfuls of 

 them and carry into the house where they will remain fresh for 

 many days, the unopened buds gradually unfolding. There is 

 another variety of this saine family, known as the Aster Belgica, 

 the same in general description, habits, etc., differing only in color, 

 which is a rich, dark purple. 



One other plant is the Pyrethrum Uliginosum, blooming at the 

 same time with the other two. Henderson says, "It is one of the 

 noblest of all tall-growing herbaceous plants, forming dense tufts, 

 five to seven feet in height, each about twice the size of those of the 

 ox-eye daisy.'' This variety, growing to such large size when fully 

 grown, demands plenty of room, and heavily loaded with starry 

 blossoms it invites the use of the shears. Mixed with the asters 

 described or massed by itself, it is one of the most satisfactory of 

 the herbaceous plants. Its color, pure snow white, makes it es- 

 pecially desirable at that season of the year when out-door flowers 

 are so scarce and the greenhouses and conservatories have not 

 reached their perfection of growth and show. This variety with 

 either of the above named asters workg up beautifully in designs, 

 keeping a long time. 



These three herbaceous plants have borne the test of our climate 

 now for four years, and each year, as the plants grow stronger, they 

 commend themselves more and more to the attention of indolent 

 natures who dread the endless search of spring catalogues for seeds 

 of annual novelties that require so much attention and must be re- 

 newed year by year. Our herbaceous plants are always with us 

 when once fairly started and are living for us all the year around. 

 One who has not tried them does not appreciate the exquisite de- 

 light of an early spring day, when, with stick or trowel in hand, the 

 owner ventures out to see what the long, dreary winter has left that 

 he may call his own. Gently pushing away the fallen leaves, little 

 slender brown points may be seen pressing their way to the sun- 

 light, which elicit a fond smile as the broad, green leaves, hiding 

 the spikes of fairy bells, pass before the mental vision— and even the 

 fragrance can be detected, so complete is the effect on the imagination. 

 So encouraged, the search is continued, and next is disclosed to 

 view the blunt points of overlapped leaves of the phlox in variety, 

 betokening in their color something of the hue of the future blos- 

 soms — the bright green assuring us of white and light colors, and 

 the dark ones that the rich purples and crimsons are on hand full 

 of vigor and determination to take up their place in the world. 



A little farther on is found the delicate, pale green of the Tanace- 

 tum Balsamita — common name, Costmary, or the old English, Ale 

 Cost— and the temptation cannot be resisted to pinch off the ter- 

 minal tiny leaf and inhale the fragrance. By the way, this plant is 

 sailing under a false name, and richly deserves being set aright for 

 its own sake and for the information of the general public. It is 

 variously known, according to location, as Rosemary, Sweet Mary, 

 Sweet Balm, etc. Rosemary, as a botanical name, indicates that it 

 belongs to the mint family, while our old garden friend of child- 

 hood days is found in the composite family. 



