Aster CI linens is. 159 



petals incurved like paeony asters ; whereas the outer petals are recurved and 

 imbricate. Beautiful in habit, full blooming, and extremely showy. In 

 about twelve colors, bright and distinct. 



9th, New Dwarf Chrysanthefnum-flowered Aster. — In size of flowers, 

 and habit of growth, this surpasses all other dwarf varieties ; a foot high. 

 The flowers are full, chrysanthemum-shaped, produced in large clusters, or 

 bouquets, from ten to twenty in a truss, very delicate and beautiful in color \ 

 in about ten or twelve varieties. 



loth, Divarf Pyramidal or Dwarf Bouquet Aster. — New and pretty, 

 about a foot high, and literally covered with flowers, — from twenty to fifty 

 on a plant. Some of the colors are exquisite, —carmine with white points, 

 white with blue or carmine points, white with salmon centre, &c. 



I ith, Boltze^s New Miniature Bouqu:t Pyramidal Aster. — Perfect gems ; 

 new and beautiful, of various colors, in compact bouquets of six or 

 eight ; constant in habit and height, and extremely free-flowering ; six to 

 eight inches high, according to the richness of the soil. A bed of this class, 

 when planted about six inches apart, presents a delightful appearance. The 

 truss of flower springs directly from the ground, having only a few green 

 leaves as a base. 



1 2th, Pyramidal Hedgehog Aster. — This is a very singular and unique 

 class. The stems are upright and branched, each branch terminated by a 

 single flower, which is filled up with needle- or quill- like petals. Colors 

 various ; height a foot and a half 



The Prussian florists have in their catalogues about fortv' different classes; 

 but the twelve I have described are more than sufficient for almost any 

 garden, however large. The German quilled aster was formerly consid- 

 ered one of the finest sorts ; but the globc-quilled improved now takes its 

 place, but is inferior in comparison with other classes. 



The Pyramidal Ranuneulus Aster is very pretty, but is hardly worthy of 

 a place in the garden where the more showy varieties are cultivated. 



Cultivation of the Aster. — The first thing to be considered in the 

 cultivation of the aster, and I may say for all flowers, is the condition of 

 the soil. Nearly all flowers require a rich, dry soil, fifteen or twenty inches 

 deep, so that the plants may not suffer in dry weather. If the subsoil is 

 inclined to retain water, it should be thoroughly drained ; if the soil is poor 



