324 
THE FLOWER GARDEN. 
being- afterwards transplanted 3m. apart in boxes or singly in 
small pots. Calceolarias require a moist rich soil to do well. 
It is useless trying to grow them in poor, dry soils. Prior to 
planting, therefore, dig in plenty of well-decayed manure. See 
the plants have plenty of water in dry weather. Calceolarias 
will do well in shady borders. As the plants are liable to be 
attacked by eelworms, causing them to suddenly collapse, it is 
a wise precaution to dress the soil a few weeks before planting 
with a soil fumigant, which will destroy these and other soil 
pests. Natives of Chili and Peru. 
Callistephus (China Aster). — The China Aster is an 
annual too well known to require a lengthy introduction. From 
the original species, originally known as Aster sinensis, and 
now as Callistephus hortensis, the score or so of distinct types 
or sections of China Aster in cultivation at the present day 
have been developed. The chief types of the China Aster are 
the Chrysanthemum, both tall and dwarf, having chrysan- 
themum-like flowers in clusters ; Paeony-fiowered, tall and dwarf, 
having very large paeony-shaped flowers with incurved florets ; 
Victoria, habit pyramidal, and flowers large, with recurved or 
overlapping petals ; Quilled, free habit, with quilled petals ; 
Comet or Plume, having curled petals like a single-flowered 
Japanese chrysanthemum; Ostrich Feather, having large 
elegantly-curled petals ; Cockade or Crown, having large 
blooms of varied hues with a white centre ; Ray, elegant free 
habit, with long, needle-like quilled petals ; Bouquet, dwarf, 
bi-colored and flat-petalled ; and the Emperor, a pyramidal 
grower with very large flowers, and attaining a height of 2ft. 
There are various other fancy types, such as the Mignon, Lady, 
Pompon, Jewel, and so on, which the reader will find in seed 
lists. Special mention must be made of the comparatively new 
race of single-flowered China Asters, known as Aster sinensis. 
These grow 15m. high, have long graceful, wiry stems sup- 
porting blooms 3 to 4in. in diameter. The species has a row 
of delicate mauve ray florets and an orange centre. 'Of this 
there are varieties of a lavender, rose blush, white, and inter- 
mediate shades. These single asters not only make effective 
bedding and border plants, but they are also most useful for 
cutting. Asters require to be treated as half-hardy annuals, 
i.e., to be raised from seed sown in heat in March, or in cold 
frames in April. The seeds may be sown in shallow boxes 
filled with two parts of good soil and one part of leaf-mould 
and a little sand. As the seedlings are liable to be attacked by 
a fungus which creeps along the soil and causes the stems to 
wither, it is a good plan to sterilise the soil by heating it over 
a fire some time before using. Sow the seeds thinly and 
