176 PLANT CULTURE 



Propagation, In removing plants from their native places 

 they should be taken only after they have completed growth. As 

 many of the roots as possible should be saved, as the species dislikes 

 removal. Raising plants from seeds is the most certain method of 

 propagation. As they grow but slowly in the seedUng stage, sow only 

 a few seeds in a pot of rather firm soil, and allow the young plants 

 to remain in these pots for at least a year before planting out. 



ASPERULA (Sweet Woodruff). The species A. odorata is a 

 slender growing plant of the Bedstraw family (Rubiaceae), with pure 

 white flowers in May. It will succeed in clumps if given a partially 

 shaded situation, but it blooms only for a short season, and the 

 foHage is not very attractive. It is sometimes grown in a quite 

 satisfactory way in company with other plants, such as Vinca 

 herbacea, V. minor, and even with varieties of the English Ivy 

 when used for covering ground among shrubs and under trees. The 

 flowers of the Woodruff appearing among the foliage of these plants 

 makes an exceedingly pretty picture. The leaves, when dried, have 

 a very agreeable aromatic odor. 



Propagation. It is propagated by division and from seeds 

 and increases rapidly. 



ASTER (Michaelmas Daisy, not China Aster). Nearly a hun- 

 dred species and varieties of these popular border plants are oSered 

 by some of the European nurserymen. Many of the plants are indis- 

 pensable for the ornamentation of the herbaceous border in late 

 Summer and Autumn. They are all of free growth and will thrive 

 in ordinary garden soil without much attention; but if the soil be 

 worked deep, and well manured before planting, the plants wfll 

 show the results of it in the size and number of flowers. Of A. 

 novi-belgii there are numerous forms, some of them only 18 inches 

 high and from that ranging to a height of 6 feet. The flowers are 

 lavender or violet blue, rose and white; A. nova-anglim is one of the 

 best-known species, tall growing, with purple flowers; its variety, 

 A. n.-a. rubra, bearing rose-colored flowers, should alwa>'s be in- 

 cluded in collection. Other good forms of these JNIichselmas Daisies 

 are catalogued by dealers. 



Propagation. These Asters are best increased by division be- 

 fore starting into active growth. 



ASTILBE. The A. japonica is usually known in gardens as 

 Spiraa japonica. The Spiraeas belong to the Rose famih', while 

 Astilbe japonica is classed with the Saxifragas, but .-1. Lemoinci is 

 said to be a hybrid between A. japonica and a species of Aruncus, 



