MICHAELMAS DAISIES. 



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clouds of cordifolius " Diana " to the bold blue stars of " Eobert 

 Parker," every form and shade of blue and purple. 



As I have already stated, most of the truly garden forms are 

 hybrids between Icevis and Novi-Belgii, and after much exam- 

 ination we find it most difficult — nay, almost impossible — to draw 

 the line between the two species. Something will have to be 

 done with these hybrids, and in my opinion the best way out of 

 the difficulty will be to coin a garden name that will include all 

 of them. They are garden creations, and should be indicated by 

 a garden name. A good many varieties, on the other hand, of 

 which " Robert Parker " in particular may be taken as the type, 

 are clearly Novi-Belgii, and may be included as garden forms of 

 that species. All the members of the cordifolius group, including 

 Shortii, Drummondii, Lindleyanus, undulatus, and sagittifolius, 

 are useful garden Asters, and are capable of much improvement. 

 Ericoides and its variety Beevesii are rock-plants of great 

 beauty, and should always be associated with dumosus and 

 sericeus. A. diffusus may well be dispensed with, but its 

 varieties liorizontalis and penclulus merit a prominent place 

 either in the flower-border or rockery. Vimineus is also a good 

 species, free, much branched, and of a graceful but compact 

 habit. Surculosus, Herveyi, and spectabilis are all of the 

 Amellus type ; and the latter, if it can be had in flower late 

 enough, we would suggest as a good cross with Novi-Belgii or 

 Icevis. Grandiflorus stands alone as a distinct and beautiful 

 Aster, but it is only in the south and in good seasons that the 

 flowers are fully developed before the autumn frosts set in. 

 Polyphyllus has been eclipsed by the beautiful seedling " John 

 Wood " ; and amethystinus can well be spared in presence of the 

 grand Novce-AngUcepulchellus. This latter species, with its roseus, 

 ruber, and pulchellus forms, makes a unique group in the autumn 

 garden, bold and massive, and constitute with " Eobert Parker " 

 and puniceus pulclierrimus most suitable plants for the shrubbery 

 or back lines of the flower-border. Typical versicolor is a very 

 dwarf and pretty plant, known in gardens long ago as discolor 

 and discolor major ; the versicolor of gardens, a tall plant with 

 white and pink flowers, is now known as "Janus." A. patens 

 and turbincllus are remarkable in habit, but they are only second- 

 rate as garden-plants, and paniculatus, which is very prolific in 

 varieties, is quite an outsider. Multiflorus is a very free white- 



