ASPHODELTJS. 



21 



ASTRAGALUS. 



become weakened by being more 

 elongated. Tbe plant generally 

 flowers in March or -April ; but by 

 prolonging its season of repose, it may 

 be made to flower in May or June. 



Arundo. — Graminece. — A.Ddnax, 

 is a splendid bamboo-looking reed, 

 growing, in rich soil kept moist, to 

 the height of ten or twelve feet in the 

 climate of London in one year ; and 

 producing a fine oriental appearance 

 when standing singly on a lawn, or 

 near water. There is a very beauti- 

 ful variety with variegated leaves. 

 The species is a native of Italy, and it 

 is often used instead of bamboo for 

 chairs, canes, &c. 



Ascle x pias. — Asclepiddeae. — 

 Swallow-wort. North American her- 

 baceous plants, for the greater part 

 hardy in British gardens. The most 

 ornamental species is A. tuberosa, 

 which has line orange-coloured flowers, 

 and is somewhat difficult to cultivate. 

 It thrives however in sandy peat, kept 

 rather dry than otherwise, and seldom 

 disturbed by removal ; and it is 

 increased by division. A. amoena 

 has purple flowers, and thrives in a 

 mixture of peat and loam. The 

 finest hothouse species is a A. curra- 

 savica, which has scarlet flowers, and 

 grows best in rich mould ; and which 

 is readily increased by cuttings, or by 

 seeds, which it produces in abun- 

 dance. 



.Ash Barberry. — See Mahonia. 



Aspe'rula Rubiacece. — Wood- 

 ruff. Hardy herbaceous plants, of 

 which one species, A. odorata, the 

 common woodruff, deserves culture 

 for its sweet-scented white flowers, 

 which, with the dried plant, have the 

 scent of hay. It is well adapted for 

 growing in pots, and for rockwork on 

 a large scale ; but as it increases ra- 

 pidly by its creeping roots, it is by 

 no means desirable for small rock- 

 work. 



Aspho'delus. — AsphodelecE. — 



Ring's-spear, or king's- rod. Orna- 

 mental herbaceous plants, mostly 

 quite hardy, of which A. albus, and 

 A. luteus, are the most ornamental 

 species. They are coarse-growing 

 plants, and increase rapidly by suckera 

 in any common soil. 



Aster. — Composifce. — The Mi- 

 chaelmas Daisy. Hardy herbaceous 

 plants, mostly perennials. There are 

 also a few Cape and New Holland 

 shrubs. The herbaceous species are 

 of great value, from their flowering 

 late in autumn, and from their requir- 

 ing very little care or labour in their 

 culture. They grow in any soil, or 

 situation, and spread rapidly by throw- 

 ing up suckers, and sending out root 

 stems. Among the handsomest per- 

 ennial species are A. alpinus, A. 

 ericoides, the common Michaelmas 

 daisy. The China aster has been se- 

 parated by botanists from the genus 

 Aster ; it was first placed in the genus 

 Callistema, but it and its varieties, the 

 German asters, &c, now form the 

 new genus Callistephus, under which 

 the culture of the plant is given. 

 Aster tenellus is thus the only an- 

 nual species left in the old genus, 

 and it is a pretty little hardy plant ; 

 which may be sown in the open 

 ground in March or April. Among the 

 greenhouse species of Aster, A. ar- 

 gophyllus, sometimes called the 

 musk-plant, is remarkable for its 

 white leaves and strong scent ; and 

 A. furticulosus has pretty blue 

 flowers. These two last species are 

 grown in sandy peat, or a mixture of 

 loam and peat, and are readily propa- 

 gated. 



Astra'galus. — Leguminosce. — 

 The Milk Vetch. Vigorous-growing 

 pea-flowered plants, of which several 

 deserve culture, on account of their 

 flowers. They grow in any common 

 soil with a dry bottom, and are rea- 

 dily increased by seeds, or by divi- 

 sion. 



