Among all the beautiful annuals cultivated at the present time, we know of none more worthy of attention than these charming pyramidal Asters, recently introduced by the French florists. M. Truffant, of Versailles, who has brought their culture to a high state of perfection, gives a very full account of his management in* the Reoue Horticols for July, 1858. The Gardeners' Chronicle condenses a part of it as follows, leaving out some very instructive remarks on the saving of seed, with a view to the improvement of both habit of the plant and form and colors of flowers.

He bows the seeds in the open ground, and in pots or pans under elotches (bell-glasses), or in frame. The sowing in the open ground is made in good rich well-worked soil, in the last fortnight of March. The seeds are very thinly covered with fine decayed leaf-mold, and slightly watered, then covered with bell-glasses or frames. These are covered with straw mats when the nights are cold, and slightly shaded from the sun's rays when the days are bright.

If the weather prove favorable, the plants will appear in about ten days. Air is then gradually admitted, and more fully as the plants acquire strength, in order that they may become robust It is necessary to guard against the attacks of insects; those most to be dreaded are the wood-lice and black spiders.

The plants from this sowing will commence flowering in the beginning of August, and will continue till September; so that in order to prolong the flowering, it will be necessary to make several successive sowings at intervals of ten or twelve days; but those sown in the end of March produce the most vigorous plants and the finest flowers.