ARMEKIA ASTER. 93 



tion by seed from flowers cross-impregnated from the garden 

 species, no doubt some fine varieties would be obtained. 



A. glandulosa is a beautiful and newly-introduced species 

 of great beauty. The plant is more dwarfish in its habits than 

 the common Columbine ; the leaves more finely divided. It is 

 about one foot high, producing in June numerous large, rich, 

 sky-blue flowers ; the internal part and margin of the corolla 

 pure white. It is one of the most desirable of the family; 

 raised from seeds or divisions of the root. Columbine should 

 be divided soon after flowering, and not in the spring. All are 

 at home in any common garden soil. 



ARMERIA. 



Thrift. 



This genus contains a number of ornamental plants, gen- 

 erally well adapted for rock-work. 



Armeria vulgaris is the Common Thrift of the garden, and, 

 next to Box, desirable for edgings. It is rapidly multiplied by 

 divisions of the root. Its pink flowers are produced in June 

 or July, on stems six inches high, in little heads or clusters. 



ASTEE. 

 Star-Flower. 



This large genus of plants embraces more than ninety 

 species, all inhabitants of the United States ; some of them 

 very handsome ; giving life and beauty to our fields and woods, 

 during the autumnal months, by the profusion of the various 

 shades of their blue, purple, or white flowers. Most of the 

 family are perenninh, easily transplanted when in flower, pro- 

 vided they are cut down to the ground, and may be planted 

 among the shrubbery or borders, and will add grace and beauty 



