82 CROP PRODUCTION 



China Asters 

 Flower Types {Autumn) 



Bring in various aster blooms and compare them to 

 see likes and unlikes. 



A perfect aster of any of the double varieties should 

 be double to the center. See which have this character. 



Seed Harvest {Autumn) 



Mark several perfect blossoms by tying a bit of string 

 or raffia around the stem. Leave these flowers on the 

 plant. 



When the petals have withered, pick the flower heads 

 and pull off the seeds to store away and sow next spring. 



Growing Seedlings {Spring) 



Early in spring sow aster seeds outdoors in one or 

 more rows. Sow the seeds about half an inch apart 

 and cover with a third of an inch of fine soil. 



Keep the ground moist and free from weeds. 



When the seedlings have four or five leaves, transplant 

 to flower borders at school or home. 



Make drawings of the seedhngs for the flower booklet. 



Marigolds 

 Harvesting Seeds {Autumn) 



Gather the ripened flower heads of the marigolds in 

 the garden and remove the seeds. Save in a box, keep- 

 ing in an unheated room where mice cannot get at the 

 seeds. 



