114 



ASTER 



ASTER 



of the cyanic series shades of blue, red, pink and pur- 

 ple. The modern evolution of the plant is in the direc- 

 tion of habit, and form of flower. Some type varies 

 generally rather suddenly and without apparent cause 

 into some novel form, still retaining its accustomed 

 color. The florist fixes the variation by breeding from 

 the best and most stable plants, and soon other colors 

 appear, until he finally obtains the entire range of color 

 in the species. So it happens that there are various 

 well marked races or types, each of which has its full 

 and independent range of colors. The Comet type (with 

 very flat rays), now one of the most deserving of the 

 China Asters, illustrates these statements admirably. 

 The Comet form the loose, open flower with long, strap- 

 like rays appeared upon the market about 1886 or 1887, 

 with a flower of a dull white overlaid with pink. The 

 pink tended to fade out after the flower opened, leaving 

 the color an unwashed white. The rose-colored Comet 

 next appeared, and the blue was introduced in 1890. The 

 first clear white was introduced in America in 1892, 

 coming from Vilmorin, of Paris, and the China Aster had 

 reached its greatest artistic perfection. 



It is impossible to construct a satisfactory classifica- 

 tion of the China Asters. It is no longer practicable to 

 classify the varieties by color. Neither is it feasible to 

 classify them upon habit or stature of plant, for several 

 of the best marked types run into both tall and dwarf 

 forms. Vilmorin, however, still divides the varieties 

 into two groups, the pyramidal growers, and the non- 

 pyramidal growers. The most elaborate classification 

 is that proposed by Barren, from a study of exten- 

 sive tests made at Chiswick, Eng. Barron has 17 sec- 

 tions, but they are not coordinate, and they are really 

 little more than an enumeration of the various types 



165. China Aster-The branching type. 



or classes. After considerable study of the varieties 

 in the field and herbarium, the following scheme seems 

 to be serviceable : 



A. Flat-rayed Asters, in which all, or at least more than 5 or 6 

 rows of rays, are more or less prominently flat and the 

 florets open. 



B. Incurved or ball-shaped. 

 BB. Spreading or reflexed. 



AA. Tubular or quilled Asters, in which all, or all but the 2 or 3 

 outer rows of florets, have prominently tubular corollas. 

 B. Inner florets short, outer ones longer and flat. Repre- 

 sented by the German Quilled. 

 BB' All the florets elongated and quilled. 

 In 1895, 250 varieties of Asters were offered by Amer. 

 seedsmen. For growing in borders, perhaps the best 

 type is the Comet, in vari- 

 ous colors. Other excellent 

 races are the Branching 

 ( Vick'sBranching is shown 

 in Fig. 165), Truffaut (Fig. 

 166) , known also as Perfec- 

 tion and Peony-flowered; 

 Chrysanthemum-flowered ; 

 Washington ; Victoria, 

 Mignon ; and Queen of the 

 Market. The last is com- 

 mended for earliness and 

 graceful, open habit, and 

 it is one of the best for 

 cut-flowers. Many other 

 types are valuable for spe- 

 cial purposes. The Crown 

 or Cocardeau is odd and 

 attractive. Amongst the 

 quilled Asters, the various 

 strains of German Quilled 

 (Fig. 167), Victoria Needle 

 (Fig. 168), and Lilliput are 

 excellent. The very dwarf 

 tufted Asters are well 

 represented in Dwarf Bou- 

 quet or Dwarf German, and 

 Shakespeare. All these are 

 easily grown in any good 

 garden soil. For early 

 bloom, seeds may be 

 started under glass ; but ' 

 good fall bloom may be 

 had, even in the North, by 

 sowing seeds in the open 

 as late as the 1st of June. Asters make very showy 

 bedding plants when grown in large masses, and are 

 also valuable for filling up vacancies in the mixed 

 herbaceous border, where they ought to be planted in 

 clumps, the dwarfer kinds put in front and the taller 

 behind. 



There are two or three insects which prey upon the 

 China Aster, but they do not appear to be widespread. 

 The most serious difficulty with them is the rust, a fungus 

 ( Coleosporium Sonchi-arvensis) which attacks the under 

 side of the leaf and raises an orange -colored pustule. 

 Timely sprays with the copper fungicides will keep this 

 disorder in check. The Bordeaux mixture discolors the 

 plants, and it is, therefore, better to use the ammoniacal 

 carbonate of copper. Spray it upon the plants before the 

 fungus appears, and repeat every week or ten days. Use 

 a cyclone nozzle and spray upwards, so as to strike the 

 under sides of the leaves. L. jj. B. 



In recent years, the Branching Asters have come to be 

 prominent, and they are bound to increase in popularity 

 as their merits become known. The long stem, large 

 size, and soft shades of pink and lavender have made 

 this the most useful to the florist of all the Asters. 

 The Comet has been rather short-stemmed for a com- 

 mercial cut-flower. As to culture, it does not seem to 

 be generally understood, even by florists, that the young 

 Aster plants will stand more frost than cabbage. If 

 started under glass about the middle of February, in 

 New York state, they will be ready to plant out the 

 latter part of April or first of May. They will then come 

 in at about the same time they would if grown entirely 

 under glass, although not so long-stemmed. For fall 

 flowers, we sow out-of-doors with seed drill and culti- 

 vate with wheel hoe. Plants have been ruined by be- 

 ing planted near squashes. The late brood of striped 

 beetles fed on the Aster flowers. 



GEORGE ARNOLD, JR. 



166. China Aster 

 Truffaut's Peony-flowered. 



