244 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



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 

 Pseony-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 

 Fig. 132.— Victoria Aster. 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 eflective 

 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, Yig. 133. — Chrvsanthemum-flowered 

 ift. to i-^ft. high, have Aster. 

 curled petals like Japanese 



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

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

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

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



