OLD-FASHIONED GARDEN FLOWERS. 37 



cut, lance-shaped, and turned inwards or over the main part of 

 the leaf ; the leaves are of a deep green colour, and of good 

 substance; they seldom exceed four in number to each plant or 

 tuber. 



This curious species should, as above indicated, have a warm 

 situation, where it will also be comparatively dry in winter. 

 Its propagation may be effected by division of the roots of strong 

 specimens. 



Flowering period, June and July. 



Asters. 



MICHAELMAS DAISIES, or STARWORTS ; Nat. Ord. 



COMPOSITE. 



HARDY, perennial, and herbaceous. These are a numerous 

 family, and many of them have an ungainly habit and insignifi- 

 cant flowers in fact, are not worth growing, save as wild 

 flowers in unfrequented places. I will mention a few of the 

 finer sorts, which are mostly species : A. diversifolius, A. 

 ericoides, A. grandiflorus, A. pendulus, and A. Dumosus, these 

 are all good, both in habit and flowers ; ericoides and pendulus 

 make really handsome bushes, but the very beautiful A. amellus, 

 and its more dwarf variety (A. Mdme. Soyance], have tempted 

 me to write of these old-fashioned plants, which may be said to 

 be wholly distinct, as their flowers are so veiy much brighter 

 (dark purple, with a clear yellow centre), and the rays so much 

 more evenly and compactly furnished. Their stems are 2ft. to 

 3ft. high, and flowered half their length with clusters of bloom 

 about the size and form of full-grown field daisies. These 

 wand-like spikes in a cut state are bright and appropriate deco- 

 rations. In vases they are very effective, even when used alone. 

 The flowers are very lasting, either cut or otherwise ; the plants 

 will bloom six or eight weeks. 



These subjects will thrive in almost any kind of soil or posi- 

 tion, opening their flowers during the dullest weather, and 

 though they like sunshine, they will not wait for it. It is 

 scarcely needful to further describe these well-known flowers, 

 but, as well as the species, there are some bright and beautiful 

 varieties which merit further notice All the Starworts are 

 easily increased by root division any time. 



Flowering period, August to November. 



Aster Alpinus. 



ALPINE STARWORT, or BLUE DAISY; Nat. Ord. COMPOSITE. 

 AN exceedingly beautiful and very much admired alpine 

 plant, which does not die down like most of the Starworts, 

 but has woody stems ; it is seldom seen more than a foot high, 



