ASTERS, ASTILBE 



269 



Among the dwarfer Alpine sorts we find excellent June-flowering 

 forms for planting along the edge of a perennial bed, but they are 

 not as suitable for cut flowers. Of the taller FaU-flowering 

 varieties it w 11 pay well to have a long row planted out, if for no 

 other purpose than to supply cut flowers. If your customers have 

 a chance to see them, you are bound to sell plants as well. 



ASTILBE (SPIR^A JAPONICA) 



Spiraea jqpomca, ot which there are today some beautiful hybrids, is 

 usually brought into flower by the florist for Easter. They make 

 showy pot plants, and he is enabled to sell them at reasonable rates 

 compared with other stock but they are most useful for decorative 

 purposes, and such beautiful sorts as Gladstone, Queen Alexandra, 

 and others can also be used as cut flowers. 



The clumps are potted up in November in pots just about large 

 enough to hold them, after which they are placed underneath a 

 bench in a cool house. Never permit the soil to become dry, and if 

 for any reason the dormant clumps reach you in a dry state, instead 

 of trying to water them after they are potted, throw them into a 

 haK-barrel of water and let them soak for an hour before you pot 

 them. Astilbes love moisture and soon show the effects of drought. 



By the end of January 

 or thereabouts you wiU notice 

 growth appearing, and that 

 means that you must bring 

 the plants up onto a sunny 

 bench. If you grow only a 

 hundred or two, it will pay 

 you to provide saucers for 

 the pots, and keep them 

 filled with water. With 

 Easter coming around the 

 early part of April you can 

 get the plants in flower by 

 that time in a 55-deg. house. 

 If, by the first week in March 

 you don't notice signs of 

 buds pushing their way above 

 the foliage, let them have a 

 few degrees more heat; or if 

 they are too far advanced, 

 move them to a 50-deg. house. 

 They cannot stand heavy 

 fumigating, but regular light 

 doses to keep green fly down 

 will not harm the foliage. 



Fig. 102. — Habdy Aster "Novi-Belgii" 

 Climax. Hardy Asters are most valuable 

 for late Summer and early Fall cut flowers, 

 but as yet are not nesirly enough appreciated. 

 The cut blooms keep in perfect condition 

 for ten days 



