CHINA ASTER. 
181 
CHINA ASTER. 
VARIETY. 
The numerous family of radiated flowers 
were named Aster, from the Greek word, signi¬ 
fying Star. Our European gardens are in¬ 
debted for the China Aster to Father d’lncar- 
ville, a Jesuit missionary, who, about the year 
1730, sent seeds of it to the royal garden at 
Paris. At first the plants produced only single 
flowers of one uniform colour; hut, through 
cultivation and change of soil, double varieties 
were obtained, and so diversified in colour, that 
they form one of the principal ornaments of our 
parterres from July to November; and the China 
Aster is thence made the emblem of variety. 
In like manner, study is capable of multiplying 
without limit the graces and refinements of the 
uncultivated mind. Brilliant and majestic, the 
Aster does not pretend to rival the rose, hut it 
succeeds her, and consoles us in autumn for her 
absence. 
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