268 FRITZ BAHR'S COMMERCIAL FLORICULTURE 



Fig. 101. THE IMPROVED COMET ASTER. 



This is one of the most desirable sorts 



for early and midseason use 



five or six of the strongest stems 

 to remain. If the weather isn't 

 too hot, Asters of the later sorts 

 can be grown to perfection; on 

 those of the branching type 

 stems 30 in. and over, with 

 large flowers can be had. 



SINGLE SORTS 

 Of late years a fine strain 

 of single Asters has been worked 

 up, of which the white, light 

 pink, rose and light blue are the 

 most desirable colors. Many 

 people prefer them to the double, 

 and they are particularly well 

 adapted for use in cut flower 

 baskets or centerpieces. 



ASTERS FOR SPRING SALES 



Every retail florist has call 



for Aster plants during the Spring bedding-plant season. It is always 

 well not to carry just one sort, but to have both the best there is and 

 a less expensive strain. One way is to sow out, about the first of 

 March, midseason and late sorts and pot the seedlings up in 2^-in. 

 pots. For ordinary stock, sow in rows in a frame; either transplant 

 once, or sell right out of the rows they are sown in. The man who 

 pushes the sale of Aster plants out of a frame in Spring, is likely to 

 realize fifty or seventy-five cents per dozen for the stock and to sell 

 enough plants, so that he really needn't care if he gets left with a 

 few hundred flowers in the field in September; he will have made 

 his money in May and June. 



HARDY ASTERS 



If you handle perennials at all, you should work up a good 

 stock of hardy Asters. Whether used as single plants in the hardy 

 border or for mass effect, few plants are more effective during 

 September and October. Besides that, they are good cut flowers, 

 lasting for days. Such sorts as Novi-Belgii Climax, with its light 

 blue flowers 1-in. in diameter and over, and the White Climax, 

 are especially to be recommended. When you cut the flowers treat 

 them as you would the Chrysanthemums, placing them deep in 

 water for about twelve hours in a dark, cool place; after that they 

 will last in good condition for a week or more. Among the hardy 

 Asters, or Michaelmas Daisies, there are sorts such as Novi-Belgii 

 Cleopatra (heliotrope) and Chapmanni (blue). They will grow 

 4 to 5 ft. in height. 



