26 



branches and leaves and a peculiar abnormal development of the 

 flowers. It seems to be due to a failure in the metabolism in the 

 leaves. 



Plants affected with root lice fail to grow and finally wilt and die. 

 The roots are found to be covered with masses of small, bluish- 

 colored plant lice. 



The stem rot or wilt, although first showing itself at any time 

 during the plant's growth, appears to be contracted only in the seed 

 bed or pricking out fiats. Both this disease and tne root lice may 

 be avoided by proper methods of cultivation. For the yellow dis- 

 ease no treatment is known. None of these troubles can be reme- 

 died after they have once appeared. 



Asters are also affected by a true rust of the leaves, grubs which 

 eat the roots, and insects which eat the leaves and flowers. 



DIRECTIONS FOR GROWING ASTERS. 



Start your own plants. Seed planted as late as June ist will give 

 an abundance of bloom before frost. 



Procure seed directly from a reliable seedsman. It costs no more 

 and is much more liable to be fresh and true to name. 



Sow the seed in the open ground at any time after the ground gets 

 into good condition, in good soil where asters have never grown 

 before. Fall sowing out of doors may also be practiced. For very 

 early flowering sow in cold frames or in the greenhouse, but this, 

 especially the latter, is much more liable to produce stem rot. 



Avoid at all times the use of soil where asters have grown before, 

 especially where the stem rot or root lice have occurred. 



Prepare the permanent bed by working in a liberal dressing of 

 barnyard manure during the previous fall and a light application of 

 any good commercial fertilizer in the spring. If this is not practi- 

 cable remember that as a general principle the richer the soil the 

 better will be your asters. 



Plant if possible in moderately moist soil. This will give better 

 growth and less trouble from grub worms. 



Beyond this it is believed that no treatment can avail for these 

 troubles. Avoid especially damping off and roof lice. 



