ASTER. The China-aster has always been a favorite in the garden. Of late years, the Ger man Asters, produced by hybridization and care ful culture, are among the most beautiful of garden flowers. The seed is better sown in a slight hot-bed, in March, and pricked out three inches apart in another frame when large enough. About the middle of May, or when .corn is fairly growing, they may be transplanted in beds, at a distance of twelve inches apart, where they will bloom profusely from the mid dle of summer until frost. The cut shows the flower, and also the plant in bloom. The Cape Aster is a pretty and showy plant for stand or window. The whole genus is easy of culture, hybridize freely with each other, and are held in general estimation. They are nearly hardy, but are always grown in pots, as they flower so early that in the open ground the buds would be liable to be nipped by the frost. They are grown
in light, rich soil, and only require ordinary care in watering. This plant is propagated by divid ing the roots in August by cuttings struck in autumn, or by seeds which they ripen in abun dance. The seed should he sown in May, on a slight hot-bed, and the young plants pricked out into small pots and shifted frequently during the summer. If they are wanted to flower in De cember, they should be kept in the green-house all the year and will begin to throw up their flower stalks in October; but if flowers are not wanted before April, the usual time, they may stand in the open air, and be re-potted two or three times during the summer. In October, they may be put in a cold pit, where they must remain just protected from the frost till March, when they will begin to send up their flower stalks.