144 breck's new book of flowers. 



pyramidal habit of If foot, covered with ten to twenty 

 flowers ; of this there is as yet but one variety. 



Imbricated Pompon Aster. — This class embraces twelve 

 or more varieties of exquisite shaped flowers, very full 

 and double, with narrow petals closely imbricated, form- 

 ing a most perfect pompon. 



Asters, styled Borabee, are convex shaped, and are in- 

 cluded among the Pseony-flowered. 



Imbricated, like the Pompons, are closely imbricated 

 with an immense number of petals, having larger flowers 

 and more flat and spreading ; some of the varieties have 

 a rich metallic lustre ; height 1^ foot. 



To have Asters in perfection, the ground should be dug 

 deep and highly manured. For early blooming plants, 

 the seed should be sown in frames wdth a little bottom 

 heat in April. But for late-flowering plants, they succeed 

 full as well when sow^n in the open ground, from the 1st 

 to the 10th of May. — Asters have the most pleasing efiect 

 when planted in beds. The tallest growing plants should 

 be placed one foot to fifteen inches apart; the dwarf- 

 varieties from six to ten inches. The plants, when cov- 

 ered with flowers, will require a little support, with light 

 rods, as a heavy rain or wind often prostrates them unless 

 thus protected. Asters are in perfection from the middle 

 of August to the middle of September. 



CALTHA.— Marsh Marigold. 



[Caltha signifies in Greek a. goblet, and refers to tlie appearance of the flower 

 when not fully expanded.] 



Caltha palustris. — Marsh Marigold. — This is a handsome 

 indigenous perennial, seen in the early part of May, or- 

 namenting the margin of brooks and wet places with a 

 great profusion of its yellow blossoms, by Avhich the 

 course of a stream may be traced a great distance by the 



