October 19, 1893. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
349 
A. Isevis floribundus is well adapted, the flowers being of dark rosy 
purple shade, and the plant compact in growth. A. n.-b. Archer Hind 
is apparently a valuable late-flowering variety, attaining a height of 
4 feet, with rosy lilac flowers ; and the same may be said of A. n.-b. 
Leda, which has rather small dark coloured flowers. A. n.-b. Juno 
(given as a variety of A. laevis in the list mentioned) is one of the 
brightest varieties now in flower in the collection, the flowers being 
moderately large and of a rich purplish blue shade. An unnamed 
seedling from A. novae-belgii x A. laevis was also noticeable, this 
being dwarf in habit, with a profusion of white medium-sized flowers. 
Another dwarf variety worthy of extensive cultivation is A. n.-b. 
densus, which is very compact in growth and the flowers lilac 
purple. Other good forms of A. novae-belgii in flower last week 
included Albion, Fortuna, and Calliope. That confusion in the 
nomenclature of these plants still exists is indicated by the fact that 
whilst several kinds at Chiswick are labelled distinctly as varieties of 
A. novae-belgii they are given in the Journal referred to as forms of 
A. laevis. This probably is because a large number of the perennial 
Asters grown in gardens are hybrids between A. laevis and A. novae- 
belgii ; but notwithstanding it would prevent further confusion if 
the varieties were labelled correspondingly with the list to which 
allusion has been made. 
Late-flowering varieties of A. novae-angliae do not appear to be 
quite so plentiful as those of the species above mentioned. The 
type is an attractive plant when well grown, being nearly 5 feet in 
height, and as a rule laden with fine rose-coloured flowers in October. 
Beautiful as the species is, however, the form known as A. n.-a. 
rubra is even better. At Chiswick this is about 3 or 4 feet in 
height, and bears an abundance of bright rosy red flowers. A. n.-a. 
pulchella is another very fine variety, rather dwarf in growth, with 
large deep violet flowers. Like A. n.-a. rubra this is very distinct, 
and should be given a place in every garden. Although rather straggling 
in growth and bearing medium-sized rose-coloured flowers, A. n.-a. 
roseus forms a pleasing feature when grown in a mass. A. n.-a. 
praecox is another desirable variety, which attains a height of 3 feet 
or so, and yields a profusion of light purplish flowers. The well- 
known A. acris is a remarkably showy plant when seen at its best; 
but A. acris nanus is a decided improvement on the type fiom a 
decorative point of view. The plant is more dwarf and compact in 
growth, and the beautiful star-like purplish flowers harmonise 
splendidly with the graceful foliage. It is a grand variety for 
growing on rockeries. Those who favour the gmall flowered forms, 
many of which are exquisitely graceful if not particularly showy, will 
find A. cordifolius Diana worthy of at ention. This had white 
blooms and finely cut leaves. A. cordifolius elegans, as its name 
implies, is another good form, and the same may be said of a variety 
labelled A. cordifolius albula. The varieties of A. Drummondi 
have their good qualities, especially A. D. cora, which is rather tall 
in growth, and a fine late-flowering plant. A. versicolor Antigone 
(syn. discolor major) is a charming form, as also is A. v. Themis 
(syn. discolor), the latter being about 2 feet high, and of a compact 
habit. A. paniculata (syn. carnea) W. G. Grant, too, is deserving 
of more than a passing notice, and the same applies to A. laevis Virgil, 
which is a very fine form. Among the dwarf - growing kinds 
A. A melius stands pre-eminent, but it is not so good as A. Amellus 
majus, which is, according to the plants grown at Chiswick, later 
flowering than the popular A. a. bessarabicus. It has large rich 
violet purple flowers. There are many more species and varieties 
grown in the collection referred to, but as before said, they were for 
the most part past their best at the time of my visit, hence a reference 
to the late-blooming kinds must suffice for the present. These are 
exceptionally valuable for the embellishment of gardens during October 
and November, and they are deserving of extensive cultivation. 
Relative to the culture of the Michaelmas Daisies, that cannot 
be said to be a very difficult matter. With few exceptions they 
will flourish in any ordinary garden soil provided it is of a fertile 
character, but they repay any extra attention that may be given them 
bv producing flowers more abundantly. This should not bo over¬ 
looked by those who grow the perennial Asters, and a top-dressing 
of decayed manure in the spring is by no means a waste of labour. 
In some cases annual division when commencing growth in the 
spring is desirable, this treatment suiting many varieties of A. novae- 
belgii and A. laevis. The dwarf forms,such as the beautiful A. Stracheyi, 
alpinus, Amellus majus, and others might advantageously be employed 
for bedding, inasmuch as apart from their freedom in flowering 
many of them possess a graceful growth which well merits attention. 
—C. 
NERINE ELEGANS ALBA. 
This charming Nerine was exhibited by Mr. T. S. Ware, Hale Farm 
Nurseries, Tottenham, at the last meeting of the Royal Horticultural 
Society, and a first-class certificate was awarded for it. The plant shown 
was a small one, and bore one spike, about G aches high, carrying nearly 
a dozen pure white flowers, as shown in the illustration (fig. 51). The 
exhibitor informed us that Nerine elegans alba “ is a native of South 
Africa, probably Natal. It is not a garden form, but a wild species, and 
has been in his possession for two years only. It is almost hardy in this 
country, but he would recommend the protection of a cold frame during 
the winter in order to protect the leaves from injury, which would spoil 
the plant for a whole year. Of course, it requires its proper season of 
rest.” Although less showy than the scarlet-flowered types, a white 
Nerine is somewhat of a novelty, and usually arrests attention. 
FEEDING TREES and PLANTS and ENRICHING 
THE SOIL IN THE AUTUMN. 
It has frequently occurred to me when advocating the adoption 
of definite cultural practices, that were we always to do it 
with the full force of our conviction we might unconsciously lead 
FIG. 51.— JfEEINE ELEGAKS ALBA. 
others to believe that the very existence of the plant or crop 
under notic3 depended upon carrying out to the letter the 
precise method of culture advanced, whereas we know well that 
equally good results may sometimes be obtained by pursuing a 
course which differs considerably in its cultural details. In the 
majority of instances, however, there are local circumstances, or 
the attainment a different object attempted, which fully account 
for the ultimate success of practices apparently at variance with 
each other. If these considerations are steadfastly borne in mind 
by gardeners of all grades many valuable lessons will be adduced 
which will help them to determine the best course to pursue at 
times when cultural problems present themselves, and which must 
