THE GARDENING WORLD 
December 8, 1900. 
234 
TRIAL OF CHINA ASTERS. 
The multiplicity of forms into which the China 
Aster (Aster chinensis or the Callistephus hortensis 
of the botanist) has developed, under the careful 
attention and selection of the cultivator, is no less 
marvellous than the fact that so many types can be 
raised true to character from seed. This bespeaks 
an eternal vigilance on the part of those who are 
responsible for the maintenance of the acquired 
characters not only of the sections, but even of the 
colours grouped under each. The careful roguing of 
the China Aster in the seed fields has been con¬ 
scientiously carried out for many years past ; and 
until the recent re-introduction of the single, wild 
type from China, with blue-purple rays, all the 
varieties grown were double. 
About the end of September last we made a 
hurried inspection of some 756 trials of China Asters 
in the Trial Grounds of Messrs. Sutton & Sons, 
Reading. The single wild one well deserves the 
name of Callistephus, or “beautiful crown,” for the 
blue-purple flowers are very handsome; and the 
plant being of bushy, branching habit the leaves 
quite cover the ground. We also noted a pale rose 
variety of it. Sutton's Giant Single is a new strain 
with white, very dark purple, rose, light blue and 
dark blue flowers, the three last named being, in our 
opinion, the most handsome. 
The form of the. German Globe Quilled Asters is 
indicated by the name, but they have been developed 
into several beautiful colours, such as white, blue, 
purple, crimson and white with rose centre. They 
are of branching habit and well suited for mixed 
borders and garden decoration generally. Sutton’s 
Exhibition Globe is the best type of quilled Aster, 
and grows about 18 in. high in dry seasons, such as 
the past. Light blue, deep blue, violet, rose, white, 
and blue with white centre are some of the colours 
into which the strain has developed. Quilled Yellow 
is strikingly distinct in colour, varying from yellow 
to primrose with age, and is very floriferous. 
Sutton’s Pompon Asters are branching and flori¬ 
ferous plants, 12 in. to 15 in. high, and bearing 
small heads of various colours. They are useful as 
cut flowers in bouquets. Sutton’s Cockade or Crown- 
flowered is a handsome race of bicolors, for each 
variety is white in the centre with a broad surround¬ 
ing border of some other colour. For cut flower 
purposes they are certainly charming. 
Quite of another type is Truffaut’s French Paeony- 
flowered Asters, which bear large heads in a great 
variety of colours. The defining characteristic of 
the strain is that the florets are incurved after the 
manner of a double Paeony. Sutton's Giant French 
Paeony-flowered Asters are noted for the immense 
s : ze of the flower beads. Their value or importance 
was indicated by the large quantity of them on trial. 
They vary in colour from white to violet-black or 
blackish-blue. Sutton’s Victoria Asters constitute 
one of the finest of the large types. The florets 
curve outwards, and the bushy, branching plants 
grow about 18 in. high. They existed in a great 
variety of brilliant and attractive colours, in massive 
heads, with loDg petals like silk ribbons. The trial 
of them was extensive. 
Several fine strains of dwarf Asters were con¬ 
spicuous by their remarkably dwarf habit. Sutton’s 
Dwarf Bouquet Asters commence blooming very 
early and that, coupled with their dwarf habit, make 
them highly suitable for lifting and potting just as 
they come into bloom for greenhouse or conservatory 
decoration. By keeping them well watered and 
shaded for a day or two they show no ill effects in 
lifting, but go on blooming as if nothing had hap¬ 
pened. They are also admirably adapted for edgings 
and small beds on the lawn. The Dwarf German 
section is also an early flowering race, useful for 
ribbon borders and small beds. There are many 
colours, as in the previous case, and last season were 
only 3 in. to 5 in. high. The plants of the Dwarf 
Pyramidal section are taller, varying from 6 in. to 
12 in. The blooms are moderate in size and very 
lreely produced in various bright colours. Suttonls 
Little Gem represents another dwarf and compact 
strain, growing 9 in. to 12 in. high and forming one 
of the best types for cottage and town gardens. 
OwiDg to the profusion of bloom they produce, they 
are not to be beaten tor pot work. 
Quite different is Sutton's Superb Bedding Asters, 
which consist of a selection of colours adapted for 
beddiDg purposes. They grow about 8 in. high 
carrying massive heads of recurved florets in many 
showy and bright colours. Dwarf Border Asters 
have refiexed florets something in the way of the 
Victoria type, but very dwarf, and the large heads 
make the branches curve downwards. The plants 
were 4 in. to 6 in. high last season. Dwarf Victoria 
Asters (6 in. to 8 in. high) are excellent for bedding, 
producing massive heads of smoothly reflexed florets 
of bright colours and in all the leading tints found in 
the genus. Dwarf Paeony Perfection Asters (8 in. 
to 12 in. high) have regularly incurved florets in a 
great variety of colours 
Sutton's Salmon Queen is a novel shade of colour, 
the blooms being of a distinct and attractive salmon- 
pink hue. The plants are branching in habit, 18 in. 
high and very suitable for cut flower work. The 
flowers of Sutton's Bountiful are of the Victoria 
type, but the heads are smaller and produced in the 
greatest profusion 'n a great variety of colours. The 
Comet Asters are always very showy and attractive, 
being highly appreciated for their long drooping 
florets like a Japanese Chrysanthemum. There are 
now many handsome colours in the strain, and the 
plants being 18 in. high, the blooms may be cut with 
long stems for vases. The Jewel, on the contrary, 
may very aptly be compared to an incurved Chrys¬ 
anthemum. It is offered in four distinct colours— 
dark blue, light blue, purple and white. The stems 
are 18 in. to 2 ft. high, the branches being very long 
and, like the previous type, suitable for vases in the 
cut state. 
A remarkably pretty type of Aster is the Reading 
Beauty strain, for the small heads are quilled, flat¬ 
tened and greatly resemble the old-fashioned quilled 
Daisies. They possess a great range of variation in 
colour, and, being profusely produced, are peculiarly 
handsome for garden decoration. Some are parti¬ 
coloured, while the tubular florets are compactly 
arranged. There is nothing like this strain in the 
whole range of types or strains above mentioned. 
The Victoria Quilled Asters are similar and make 
excellent companions or associates, but their blooms 
are much larger. There are many colours in this 
strain likewise, and all are floriferous and showy. 
CHRYSflNTHElIIUni NOTES. 
EARLSWOOD NURSERIES. 
Messrs. W. Wells &Co., Ltd., of Earlswood Nur¬ 
series, Redhill, Surrey, are so well known to Chrys¬ 
anthemum growers that an introduction seems 
almost unnecessary. During the last half-dozen 
years the firm (or shall we write of it as Mr. Wells’ 
nursery ?) has been very greatly in evidence from its 
connection with many colonial novelties that are 
now favourite varieties in the Chrysanthemum col¬ 
lections of this country. Mr. Wells made a contract 
or agreement some years ago with Mr. Pockett, 
curator of a botanic garden in Victoria, Australia, 
by which the latter was to send here all the seedlings 
which he raised, and which he had reason to believe 
were meritorious. Since this agreement was 
arranged the novelties from the Antipodes have 
steadily been evolving. Mr. Brunning, an Austra¬ 
lian nurseryman* also sends novelties to this coun¬ 
try, but Mr. Wells has not the monopoly of them. 
The varieties from Mr. Pockett are sent out as be¬ 
longing to the “ Wells-Pockett set.” The elite of the 
season’s continental new sorts, such as those raised 
by M. A. Nonin, of Paris, M. Calvat, of Grenoble, 
and others, are also selected, tried, and if successful 
are included in the Earlswood collection. Nothing 
but Chrysanthemums are grown, yet Mr. Wells and 
his helpers are busy throughout all the year. 
The earliest batches of cuttings are being inserted 
fast and constantly at the present time, so that in a 
fortnight’s time many a house will be filled,. The 
care of these and the work of executing orders, 
carries the season on till about April or May. Then 
growing, pure and simple, is the business of the 
summer, till about September again, when the 
earliest varieties are cut to open the exhibiting 
period. The wind up of the shows is just at this 
time, that is, December. 
Among the varieties which we noticed in a visit 
on the 24th November, we were particularly de¬ 
lighted with a number of Japs, including the variety 
Lady Roberts. This is the variety that secured Mr. 
Wells’ gold medal as the best new seedling raised 
during the season in Australia. It is one of Brun- 
ning’s, and takes after the Edwin Molyneux type. 
The incurving petals are brightened on the reverse 
side by gold tint, and above they are rich glowing 
crimson. The blooms are large and strong, and by 
all accounts it would seem to be a sterling novelty 
Lord Roberts furnishes a flower with much the same 
colour, but perhaps lacks in points of finish. 
W. R. Church is a pume favourite with Mr. 
Wells, who declares it to be one of the finest varieties 
he has ever handled. Either as a decorative plant 
to be grown in the open border, or for the best 
exhibition purposes it is held to be highly satis¬ 
factory. The colour is peculiar—a sort of bluish- 
tinged purple, or deep crimson with bright, incurving 
gold tipped petals. The gold tips enliven the blooms 
and add a feature of pronounced attractiveness. It 
received the Scottish Horticultural Association's 
Silver Medal awarded for the best novelty of the 
season; and it has had an Award of Merit from the 
R.H.S. (London). 
Mabel Morgan obtained the Bronze Medal at 
Edinburgh as being the second best of the new 
varieties that were shown there. The colour is 
canary-yellow, and the habit closely resembles that 
of the Carnot type. Another good yellow variety is 
G. Borneman which it is said "will knock out 
Edith Tabor as an exhibition bloom.” Sir R. 
Buffer, crimson, forms a very strong flower, and can 
be had late. Mdme. Delaire has a pale mauve base 
and creamy-pink centre. It furnishes a pleasantly 
coloured and well-balanced flower, and is described 
as an incurved Jap. Le Grand Dragon stiff holds 
good. It is a variety with which one may make 
a hit or may not. This year it has beet) 
splendid. 
Robert Laird is a variety which we ourselves 
think will take well. It is very distinctive, having 
long, curling, downward-hanging petals of medium 
breadth,and is white as snow. It seems to be massive 
and has good substance. 
It is necessary here to draw attention to the two 
forms of the variety Sir H. Kitchener. One form 
was sent out by Brunning and is a dull, bronzy-buff 
variety of little value. The other is “ Owen's 
form,” of a bright, lively orange-yellow colour. 
The difference is important. R. Hooper Pearson 
which we praised so heartily last year has almost 
universally failed as an exhibition flower,but there is 
consolation in the fact that as a bush sort it stands 
exceedingly high. In a different season it may even 
come out well as a large bloomed specimen. 
C. J. Salter, makes a good exhibition flower. 
Late Molyneux is the prototype of Edwin Molyneux. 
It is good as a bush. By the way, why has E. 
Molyneux been almost rescinded ? It is difficult to 
do, but there is nothing finer. 
Rayonnant is distinct and promises well. It 
takes after the Lilian Bird style, the colour being 
lovely flesh pink. Miss Ada Barwood, an incurving 
Jap., is almost pure white. It received a Wellsian 
Silver Medal as being the best bloom at one of the 
northern shows this year. Mrs. J. Bryant has a 
good name; it is mauve coloured. Silver-Queen is 
a beautiful heliotrope lilac variety, strongly fo be 
commended. Mdme. Von Andre is known as a first- 
rate primrose coloured Jap. In Miss Smith Ryland 
we have a buff terra-cotta Jap. that is also good. 
Jane Molyneux (true), is a charming white Jap. 
Khaki is a fine reddish terra-cotta variety, likely to 
make headway. 
Canning Buckland is said to be “ an easy doer ” 
and furnishes a sweet blush-pink bloom. Sydney 
Brunning we have elsewhere admired. It is a lively 
coloured Chrysanthemum, with a mixture of gold 
and crimson. Souv. de la Paris Exposition is, 
according to Mr. Wells, “one of the best.” It certainly 
forms a massive bloom of a bright heliotrope shade, 
and has long petals which twist and intermingle. 
Mdme. A Cordonnier-Wibaux (Calvat) is a magni¬ 
ficent incurved Jap. of a rich old gold below, and 
crimson above. Edinburgh is a true incurved 
variety, white, suffused with lilac. It was certifi¬ 
cated at Edinburgh. Then comes Emily Towers 
an outstanding favourite and certainly one of 
best. With this we have Miss Lucy Chiesman 
which also is a favourite, and has beaten Oceana on 
account of size and its " dependability,” to coin a 
word. 
Golden Mdme. Ferlat is a bright incurved addition. 
Good Japanese varieties are M. Louis Remy, bright 
canary yellow; Mrs. Coombes, rosy-lilac, large and 
massive; Miss Alice Byron, a noble white; Mrs. 
Barkley, with ponderous blooms of a mauve tint ; aqd 
Frank Hamford, golden bronze in colour, and 
