GARDEN FLOWERS. 53 



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

 tember ; North America ; 1710. A. pulcherrimus (prettiest); 

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

 America ; 1800. 



There are more than a hundred and fifty other species. 



ASTEROCEPHALUS. Hardy annuals and perennials, in- 

 cluding the well-known Sweet Scabious, or Mourning Bride. 

 The seeds of this are sown in the flower-borders in May, 

 and merely thinned out when the plants come up, or in a 

 hot-bed, and transplanted. The perennial species are of 

 easy culture in common garden soil, and increase by di- 

 vision. 



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

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

 leaved) ; hardy perennial ; i foot ; flowers blue, in July ; Switzer- 

 land ; 1683. A. incana (hoary) ; hardy perennial ; i foot ; flow- 

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

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

 1517. 



There are many other species. 



ASTRAGALUS. Milk Vetch. [Legnminosae.] 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 ; 18 inches ; flow- 

 ers yellow, in June ; Spain ; 1738. A. Austriacus (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. 

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

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



