THE GENESEE FARMER 



89 





3HM 



THE ASTEB FAMILY. 



No class of flowers can compare with the Aster for au- 

 lmn flowering, and we depend upon it for our principal 

 arden adornment during the fall. Fortunately it is of 

 isy culture, perfectly hardy, and will thrive in any fair 

 arden soil, and with ordinary treatment. No class of 

 owers has been improved so much within the last twenty 

 ears as this splendid genus, and none has advanced so 

 ipidly in public favor. They are now as double as the 

 irysanthemum, or the finest dahlia, and almost as large 

 ad showy as the peony. Some of our readers, perhaps, 

 ho have been acquainted with only the old common sorts 

 ill be surprised at this statement, but we can assure 

 lem that a perfectly double aster more than four inches 

 i diameter is no strange thing to those who are careful 

 » obtain seeds of the new and choice varieties, and who 

 fterward give them good culture. We give a brief des- 

 ription of a few of the best sorts, and also au engraving 

 f a plant in flower. 



Dwarf Pyramidal Bouquet. — This variety well de- 

 >rves its name, for the flowers are fine and perfect, and 

 3 numerous that the plant, when in blossom, has the ap- 

 earance of a bouquet of flowers, the green leaves only 

 ust peeping through, as flowers and leaves are arranged 

 i a bouquet by a tasteful florist. The usual height is 

 bout one foot. 



Peony Flowered. — A large, showy and beautiful flower, 

 he petals are incurved, giving the blooms a globular 

 >rm. Like the preceding, they present almost every va- 

 iety of color. Plants from eighteen inches to two feet 

 i height. 



New Chrysanthemum Flowered. — This is a new and 

 ery desirable variety. The plants only grow about ten 

 aches in height. The flowers are as large as Peony Flow- 

 red, and so numerous as to conceal the leaves entirely. 



Imbriqde Pompone. — Flowers rather small, round, the 

 ietals finely imbricated. 



New Crown or Two Colored. — This is one of the most 

 lelicate and beautiful of Asters. Each flower is of two 

 listinct colors, a few of the outside rows of petals being 

 :armine, scarlet, violet, or blue, and the center a clear, 

 ransparent white. 



Large Rose Flowered, or La Superb. — This is a splen- 

 lid variety, very large, of good form, and of the purest 

 ind brightest rose color. Flowers over four inches in 

 liameter. 



New Giant Emperor. — This is tha giant of the Asters 

 —often five inches in diameter. The plants are peculiar 

 in their habit, as exhibited in the engraving, erect, with 



no side branches or blooms, and having usually five flow- 

 ers, all of the same height. The old Emperor was only 

 of one color — a dull lilac — but we now have fifteen differ- 

 ent colors of the Giant Emperor. The following descrip- 

 tion of this splendid flower is by Henderson, the cele- 

 brated florist of London: "The Giant Emperor Asters 

 are the most splendid flowers in Asters yet offered, 

 whether regarded for effect, individual beauty, or compe- 

 tition. The well known laveuder blue variety, introduced 

 in 1858, is the model of the present section in each of the 

 kinds now referred to, and which offer a complement of 

 colors equal to a magnificent display of this favorite sum- 

 mer and autumn flower. The blossoms in each variety 

 are of great size, double to the center, and of an even cir- 

 cular outline. Their corymbose style of growth produces 

 similar table like clusters of flowers, and consequently 

 show a greater expanse of bloom than anr other section 



GIANT EMPEROR ASTER PLANT IN FLOWER. 



of the asters. The Giant Emperor is also admirably 

 adapted for pot culture, but for medium or large beds, 

 either in miscellaneous mixed colors, or in their respec- 

 tive harmonized tints by separate groups, it is incompar- 

 ably the finest variety, whether individually or collectively 

 considered, in its adaptation to the well furnished design 

 of a villa garden, or the more extensive requirements at- 

 tached to larger domains, in their broad acres of flowers, 

 and massive belts of bloom for the late summer months." 

 The above will make a superb collection of varieties of 

 this beautiful flower. 



