ASPARAGUS. 



ASTERS. 



above it, eight inches of turf; again, six 

 inches of well-rotted dung, and then eight 

 inches of the reserved soil sifted ; over this 

 six inches of thoroughly decomposed 

 manure, and six inches more of the soil 

 thrown aside in making the trench, well 

 mixed together by digging. The beds thus 

 formed are five feet wide, with alleys 

 between two feet wide. The roots are 

 planted in the beds in rows eighteen inches 

 apart, and eighteen inches apart in the 

 rows ; a handful of fine mould is placed 

 under each plant, over which the roots are 

 carefully spread, the crown being an inch 

 and a half below the surface ; a spadeful 

 of fine sand is now thrown over the crown, 

 and the operation is completed. In order 

 to procure an early supply of this delicious 

 vegetable, they first prepare a moderately 

 warm hotbed. On this six inches of rich 

 mould is laid, and a sufficient number of 

 asparagus from an old bed planted. Over 

 this lay a few inches of the same soil, 

 covering the whole with sufficient litter to 

 keep out the frost, or by mats over the 

 frame. The plants will soon start into 

 growth. A little liquid manure applied 

 occasionally will keep up a vigorous growth, 

 and the plants, if properly managed, will 

 be ready to cut by Christmas. 



YELLOW ASPHODEL, 



Asphodel (nat. ord. Liliaceae). 



Plants of this family are mostly hardy 

 herbaceous perennials, with fleshy fascicu- 

 lated roots. The flowers are either white 

 or yellow, and grow on long footstalks, 

 forming stately spikes of bloom. They 

 will grow in any kind of soil, but a rich 

 sandy loam is best fitted to bring them to 

 perfection. They are propagated by divi- 

 sion of the roots. 



Aspidistra (nat. ord. Liliace). 



Plants bearing broad lanceolate leaves 

 on long stalks. The flowers are very 

 small and insignificant, and grow close to 

 the ground. They grow in ordinary soil, 

 and are propagated by suckers. Aspidistra 

 lurida is the best known, and is one of the 

 few plants thai are uninjured by the fumes 

 of gas. 





 As'ters (not. ord. Compcs'ita). 



This splendid class of half-hardy annuals 

 is not only one of the most popular, but 

 also one of the most effective of our garden 

 favourites, producing in profusion flowers 

 in which richness and variety of colour are 

 combined with the most perfect and beauti- 

 ful form. The Aster is indispensable in 

 every garden or pleasure-ground where an 

 autumnal display is desired. In our flower- 

 beds and mixed borders it occupies a 

 deservedly prominent position, whilst for 

 grouping or ribboning it stands unrivalled. 



The Aster may be divided into two sec- 

 tions French and German. The French, 

 as improved by Trufifaut, has flat petals 

 either reflexed or incurved ; the former re- 

 sembling the Chrysanthemum, whilst the 

 latter, turning its petals towards the centre 

 of the flower, forms, when well grown, a 

 perfect ball, and is best described by its 

 resemblance to the pseony. The German 

 varieties are quilled, and the most perfect 

 flowers are surrounded by a circle of flat or 

 guard petals, as in the hollyhock. The 



