54 FLOWERS AND FRUITS. 



posed that they rival the richest patterns of the carpets of Persia, 

 or the most curious figures in filagree, the artist can devise see 

 these reflected in the liquid mirror below, and some idea of the en- 

 chanting appearance which these brilliant stars are thus made to 

 produce, can be conceived. 



When the seed of the China Aster cannot be depended upon, as 

 to what colored flower it may produce, the plants should be kept in 

 a nursery bed until the first flower is expanded sufficiently to ascer- 

 tain its hue, and then with a transplanting spade they may be re- 

 moved to such parts of the parterre as we wish to embellish with 

 any particular hue, or to sites where we intend to display the art 

 of grouping colors. These plan/s should be allowed sufficient room 

 to extend their branches, but at the same time be planted so near 

 each other as to hide the earth, and form but one mass of flowers ; 

 and they may be planted on the spot where " spring's earliest visit 

 is paid ;" for by the time these annuals require transplanting, most 

 of the early flowering bulbs will have been taken out of the ground. 



It is recommended to preserve the seeds from the flowers of the 

 centre or principal stem only, as those on the lateral branches are 

 never so large or so double, and consequently produce inferior 

 plants. The bow of Iris may be imitated by planting these flowers 

 in regular shades ; but this must be on a large scale, and sloping 

 ground, or the effect will be trifling. It may be performed in plan- 

 lations of young shrubs, before they have acquired a size to cover 

 the ground, as the crescent, being interrupted or broken in its pro- 

 gress by the shrubs, will rather add to, instead of lessening the 

 effect. The upper side of the bow should be finished by a line of 

 yellow Marigolds. No flower is so appropriate to plant in abund- 

 ance in the shubberry as this, as it forms the best contrast with the 

 autumnal tints of shrubs and trees In floral language, the China 

 Aster is the emblem of VARIETY. 



