THE GARDEN WEEK BY WEEK 



Jan. China or Annual Asters 



These beautiful half-hardy annuals have been special- 

 ised to such an extent that nearly a dozen distinct types 

 are now sold by seedsmen. They differ in the height to 

 which the plant grows, and in the colour of the flowers. 

 In each section there are several distinct colours which 

 are offered in "assortments" or "collections" of separate 

 colours, but can be bought at a cheaper rate in mixture. 

 The following are the principal sections : 



Quilled, which has rolled florets. 



Paeony-flowered, which has incurved florets. 



Dwarf Chrysanthemu7n -flowered, which has reflexed florets. 



Victoria, which also has reflexed florets. 



Crown or Cockade, which has flowers with a white centre. 



Dwarf Bouquet, which is very low growing, and is suitable for pots 

 or the edges of beds. 



Co?net, which has broad, flattish, drooping florets, flowers very 

 large. 



Ostrich Plume, which has large flowers with loose, feathery central 

 florets, that impart a very graceful appearance to the blooms. 



Single, — This is the Callistephus sinensis of botanists, and has 

 pretty mauve flowers. 



The three most important sections for flower-garden 

 decoration are probably the Victoria, the Comet, and the 

 Ostrich Plume, all of which make beautiful beds, or 

 handsome clumps in borders. They grow about two 

 feet high. 



Sweet Peas 



The Sweet Pea has progressed so rapidly under the 

 hands of cross-fertilisers that there are now two or three 

 hundred varieties. Much use can be made of Sweet 

 Peas in the flower garden, as we shall presently see, and 

 it is therefore very desirable to have a selection of good 

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