94 HARDY PERENNIALS 
ground stems carefully separated, but it is not wise 
to transplant too frequently. 
Asphodelus. — Over a carpet of scarlet Geum, 
dark purple Veronica, or golden-yellow CEnotheras 
of dwarf habit, a few spikes of the stately white- 
flowered Asphodelus ramosus produce a very striking 
and handsome effect. Like wide-open lilies close- 
set on erect leafy stems, with fresh-looking tufts 
of grassy foliage at the base the flowers possess a 
stateliness that befits them for prominent positions 
in beds on the la\vn, or at approaches to lily pools, 
fountains, etc. Asphodeline lutea is closely akin to 
the true Ashhodel, but its flowers are bright yellow, 
and its stems leafless. A rich purple carpet of 
Campanula, or the vivid scarlet of Potentilla atrosan- 
guinea make a fine setting for the golden spikes. 
Give a deeply dug fairly rich soil, allow at least a 
square yard per plant, support the flower spikes with 
neat stakes, and disturb only when necessary to 
divide the crowns. 
Aster. — It is a somewhat difficult matter to decide 
what to WTite about the Perennial Asters, or Michael- 
mas Daisies. The humblest cottage garden has its 
Michaelmas Daisies, and their cultural requirements 
are so simple that they may be said to be capable of 
looking after themselves, needing only restraining 
measures when they break out of bounds, as they 
will do within a matter of two or three years. Were 
we, however, thus lightly to pass over this family 
of hardy Autumn-blooming plants, the uninitiated 
