Aster, Perennial 



Aster, " China ' 



eariv-biooming form called Clio, which has blush 

 flowers. 



grandiflorus, 2!,', Nov., vio. A very fine Star- 

 ' wort, but too late in bloom for cold localities. 



hnvis, 2', Sep., bl. A valuable species which has 

 given some nice vars. ; among them being Apollo, 

 Arcturus, Ariadne, Calliope, decorus, formosissirnus, 

 and Harvard!!. All are good. 



Linosyris, 1', Aug., yel. The old Goldilocks, a 

 pretty plant with heads of small, bright flowers 

 (*//.. Chrysocoma Linosyris, Linosyris vulgaris). 



Xoviu-Anglia 1 , !>', Sep., pur. Although of rather 

 tall habit in strong soils, this is a very useful 

 species; the vars. roseus and ruber being valued 



ASTEK AMELLUS ONWARD. 



(See p. 



for their ro. or crim. flowers. Mrs. J. F. Rayner, 

 pravnx, pulchellus, Win. Bowman, and Woolston 

 are all good vars. 



Novi-Belgii, 4', Sep., bl. A valuable species 

 and one which has given some fine vars., too 

 numerous to detail. The form Isevigatns is capital 

 (.//'. Icogifoliua formosus), and others to be re- 

 commended are Daisy Hill, Madonna, Autumn 

 Glory, Cottage Maid, Daphne, Edith, E. G. Lowe, 

 Ella, F. W. Burbidge, Irene, John Wood, Maia, 

 Mrs. C. W. Earle, Robert Parker, Pleiad, Top 

 Sawyer, and White Spray. 



puniceus, G', Sep., bl. A handsome plant with 

 crim. stems and cupped flowers. The best var. is 

 pulcherrimus, blush-wh. 



TiMilc-r.mtii, 4', Oct., wh. A capital plant for 

 cutting. Sprays of small flowers and Heath-like 

 f ol iage. 



turbinellus, 3', Aug., mauve. A very fine Star- 

 wort with pretty blooms. 



versicolor, 3', Sep., pk., wh. A pretty species, 

 good vars. being nanus, Antigone, and Themis. 



vimineus, 3J'. Sep , wh. One of the most useful 

 fur cutting; it gives elegant sprays of small 

 flowers. Good vars. are Cassiope and nanus. 



Other Species : 

 acuminutuN, 2', Sep., wh 



lauceolatus, 5', Sep., wli. 



Alberti, 3', Aug., pur. lindleyanus, 2', Sep., bl. 



altaicus, 1', Jy., bl. pur. longifolius, 3', Oct., wh. 

 umethystinus, 3', Oct.. Maackii, 2', Aug., bl. 



pur. bl. 

 Bellicliastrum, 1', Jy. , 



wh. (SI/H. Bellicliastrum 



Michellii). 

 Bigelovii, 2V, Aug.,bien.. 



h'l. 



cassiarabicus, 2', Sep., pk. 

 caucasicus, IV, Jy., pur. 

 Chapmanii, 25', Sep., vio. 

 coiicinnus, 2', Oct., pur. 

 concolor, 1', Oct., pur. 

 Coombe-Fishacre,3',Sep., 



flesh. 



corymbosus, 2', Jy., wh. 

 Curtisii, 3', Sep., lil. 

 diplostephioides, IV, Je., 



pur. 



Douglasii, 4', Sep.. pur. 

 elegans, 2', Sep., bl. 

 formosissimus, 2.',', Sep., 



lil. 



multiflorus, 4', Sep., wh. 

 paniculatus, 4', Sep., 1:1. 



(vars.. Dot; W. J. 



Grant). 



patulus, 3', Sep., pur. 

 peregriuus, 1', Aug., pur. 

 Porteri, 2', Aug., wh. 

 polyphyllus, 4i , Sep., wh. 

 ptannicoides, H', Aug., 



wh. 



pulchellus, 1', Jy., pur. 

 pyrenffius, H', Jy., h'l. 



pur. 

 salsuginosus, 1J', Jy., pur. 



(syn. Erigerou salsugin- 

 osus). 

 sericeus, 3', Jy., grn., bl. 



(syn. argeiiteus). 

 Shortii, 3', blush, 

 sikkimensis, 3', Oct., pur. 

 spectabilis, 2V, Sep., bl. 



floribundus, 3', Sep., pur. Stracheyi, H'~, Jy.,*Kl. bl. 

 gymnpcephalus, 1', Jy., Thomsoni, 2', Aug., lil. 

 trinprvis. '*' Aurr lil 



half-hdy. aim., ro. 

 Heuryi, , Aug., bl. 

 Herveyi, IV, Sep., lil. 

 incisus, 2.J r , Aug., bl. or 



wh. (syu. Calimeris in- 



cisa). 



trinervis, 2', Aug., bl. 

 trinervius, 3 , Oct., wh. 

 Tripolium, 2', Aug.. bl. 

 umbellatus, 2', Aug., wh. 

 umlulatus, 3', Aug., bl. 

 Vilmoriuii, 2', Jy., bl.pur. 



ASTER ("CHINA"). 



Description. Half-hardy annuals (now referred 

 botanically to the genus Callistephus, ord. Com- 

 positse), of easy culture. In its wild state the 

 China Aster is single, but numerous double 

 varieties have been obtained under cultivation, 

 and a range of form and colouring has been de- 

 veloped of a widely diversified character. Most of 

 the varieties are so far fixed as to come true from 

 carefully selected seed. For late summer and 

 autumn flowering, Asters are amongst the most 

 useful and effective of annuals. 



Propagation. From seeds. To raise plants 

 early sow the seeds in March in pans or small 

 boxes filled with light soil and placed on a green- 

 house shelf ; or sow in shallow drills in a bed of 

 soil, placed over a gentle hotbed, in a frame. As 

 soon as the seedlings are large enough to handle 

 they should be carefully lifted and pricked off in a 

 frame to increase in size, and become gradually 

 hardened prior to being planted at the end of May. 

 Another method is to sow seeds in shallow drills, 

 6" apart, in a bed of fine soil made up in a 

 cold frame about the middle of April. Prick off 

 the seedlings when large enough into another 

 frame, and plant them out when danger of frost 

 is over. Dwarf, sturdy plants are thus obtained. 

 Failing the above facilities, seeds may be sown 

 thinly in a bed of rich soil outdoors early in May. 



Soil. Asters like a deep, rich soil in a situation 

 exposed to sunshine. The ground should be dug 

 deeply before planting, and a moderate dressing of 

 thoroughly decomposed manure worked into the 

 subsoil, as this has the effect of attracting the 

 roots and affording assistance when the plants are 

 expanding and perfecting their flowers. 



Other Cultural Points. The end of August and 

 September are the months for Asters, and they are 

 very effective in masses, or about 1' apart in 

 single rows along borders. They are moisture 

 loving plants, and are much benefited by the 



