248 GENERAL REVIEW. 



are merely natural seminal varieties. They all seed freely, and 

 are readily propagated by cuttings of the young growth during 

 the summer months, inserted in pans and placed in a close 

 frame, or pricked into a thin layer of sand on a north border 

 and covered with a hand-light. The China Aster is A. (Calli- 

 stemma) hortensis, and is readily multiplied from spring-sown 

 seeds in heat, planting out after all danger from frost is past. 

 There are two distinct strains or races; the " French," in which 

 ray florets only are developed and the " German," or 

 "Quilled," in which the florets of the disc form a rounded, 

 cushion-like mass. The late Mr Betteridge, a well-known 

 florist, improved the " Quilled " varieties considerably. 



Chrysanthemum. A well-known and beautiful genus of 

 decorative plants^ introduced to this country from China, where 

 they have long been cultivated, as also in Japan, whence Mr 

 Fortune introduced the long-quilled Japanese varieties now so 

 popular. Two species C. leucanthemum, the " Ox-eye Daisy " 

 of our meadows, and C. segetum, or "Corn Marigold" are 

 common weeds in this country. The Chrysanthemum, C. indi- 

 cum (or Pyrethrum sinense of some botanists), was much im- 

 proved by the late Mr Salter of the Versailles Nursery, Ham- 

 mersmith, as also by Mr Forsyth of Stoke Newington, and 

 other cultivators. There are three or four sections, as " Large- 

 flowered," "Small-flowered," "Anemone-flowered," and "Ja- 

 panese." Several other species have been introduced, as ,C. 

 grandiflorum from the Canaries, C. pinnatifidum from Madeira, 

 C. fruticosum, with elegantly-cut glaucous foliage and white 

 daisy-like flowers, and others ; and it is a little singular that 

 hybridisers should never have effected a cross between some of 

 these and the Chinese or Indian species. The original form 

 of C. indicum does not appear to be grown in our gardens ; but 

 the Chinese and Japanese have doubtless grown and improved 

 its varieties for ages before we obtained some of their garden 

 forms. Naturally the Chrysanthenum has a leggy habit, and is 

 apt to become bare at the bottom ; and although we can over- 

 come these drawbacks by a systematic course of good culture, 

 it is none the less desirable that a cross should be effected 

 between this and some better-habited plant. Cuttings taken 

 off in spring strike readily in a close frame, or even in the open 

 air in May, if inserted on a shady border and covered with a 

 hand-glass. Chinese gardeners graft some Chrysanthemums 

 on a species of Artemisia as a stock ; and, so treated, they are 

 said to grow more vigorously and flower better than on their 

 own roots. It would be interesting to know the exact species 

 of Artemisia employed; but doubtless some of the strong- 



