126 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



the Special Prizes ofifered for Annuals, I will speak of thena today 

 as such. Let us now consider some of the most desirable annuals 

 for general cultivation ; and esi)ecially the four just mentioned. 



The Aster. — I usually make two plantings of Asters, the first 

 about the fifteenth of March, and the second near the beginning 

 of April, in the greenhouse, in shallow boxes. As soon as the 

 plants are well up, I prick them out into thumb pots. From this 

 time until the plants are set in the open ground, where they are to 

 remain, the greatest care is necessary to keep them from becom- 

 ing spindling; " keep them as cool as possible and still keep them 

 growing" is what I am continually writing my gardener; and if 

 this is done good stocky plants will be the result. 



About the fifteenth of May the plants should be set in the open 

 ground ; in rows or in beds as the cultivator may prefer, but in 

 either case the plants should be set at least eighteen inches apart. 

 If the weather is dry when the plants are set out, they must be 

 watered until they become thoroughly established in their new 

 position. Keep the soil loose and free from weeds, until the buds 

 begin to set ; when all cultivation should cease, and nothing more 

 is necessary until the flowers are ready to gather. 



When the plants are about two-thirds grown they should be tied 

 ui) to stakes ; if this be neglected and a heavy storm should 

 happen to come just as they are in full bloom, the plants will be 

 levelled to the ground, and the flowers covered with dirt antl spoiled. 

 A bed of asters is in its prime for from eight to ten days, during 

 which time a grander sight is seldom seen, especially before any ol 

 the flowers have been cut. 



Out of forty or fifty varieties, three classes practically include 

 all the asters grown ; these three are Trufl'aut's Pieony-Flowered 

 Perfection, the Victoria, and the Pompon. Trulfaut's PjKony- 

 Flowered Perfection and Victoria are both large asters ; the petals 

 of the former incurving to the centre ; the petals of the latter re- 

 curving to the edge. Pompon Asters have small flowers about the 

 size of a half-dollar. 



The following list gives the principal colors afforded by each 

 of the three classes : 



Trvffaut'a Pceuny-Floioered Perfection. — Snow white, rose, rose 

 and white, dark rose and wiiite, light carmine and white, carmine, 

 crimson, dark crimson and white, violet, and piui)U' and violet. 



Victoria. — White, white tinted with rose, rose and white, car- 

 mine rose, crimson, and \ iolct. 



