244 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



Fig; 132. — Victoria Aster. 



will materially help them at a time when they are in need of 

 nourishment, viz., when they are producing their flowers. . 



The varieties are very numerous,- all of which have originated 

 from the one Chinese species, Callistephus chinensis ; they are 



divided into several sections, 

 according to height, habit, ' 

 kind of flower, suitability for 

 bedding, pot-culture, &c. The 

 Pasony-flowered Asters (Fig. 

 131) are vigorous plants, 

 growing upwards of 2ft. in 

 height, and producing large 

 incurved flowers of various 

 colours ; useful for bedding 

 and for flower borders. Vic- 

 toria Asters (Fig. 132) are 

 amongst the most popular 

 for either bedding or pot- 

 culture ; they are of pyramidal 

 habit, ift. in height, pro- 

 ducing an abundance of large 

 globular flowers, perfectly double and reflexed. There is also 

 a dwarf form of Victoria resembling the type in everything but 

 size. Dwarf Chrysanthemum-flowered Asters (Fig. 133), if sown 

 at the same time as the Victorias, will flower later, forming a 

 nice succession ; they are of dwarf, compact habit, and for the 

 size and brilliancy of the 

 flowers are equal to the 

 taller sections ; the flowers 

 are full and reflexed, and 

 produced in such abund- 

 ance as almost to hide 

 the foliage ; height ift. 

 Betteridge's Prize Quilled, 

 though not such effective 

 border-plants, are splendid 

 for exhibition purposes ; 

 they are globular, each petal 

 forming a perfect quill, with 

 a curious outer ring of 

 guard-petals at the base of 

 the flowers. Comet Asters, 

 ift. to i^ft. high, have 

 curled petals like Japanese 

 Chrysanthemums ; useful for beds or for cut-flowers. Crown, 

 or Cockade Asters, i^ft. to 2 ft. high, are suitable for bouqiiets 

 and bedding ; the flowers are large, flat, and produced' in 

 abundance ; the centre of each flower is white, surrounded by 



fig. 133. — chrysanthf.mum-flowemd 

 Aster. 



