The Readers’ Service will give you injor- 
178 mation about leading hotels anywhere TT H EK G A R D E N M A G A Z ] N E APRIL ‘5 1908 
How I Grow Prize Asters 
pas AN exhibition last year I had three 
entries of asters, and secured first, sec- 
ond, and third prizes, the first prize lot being 
flowers five inches across on stems twenty-six 
inches long. I grow preferably white, pink, 
and lavender. ‘These colors are not to be 
found, however, in the packets of mixed seeds 
on the market, in which red and blue gener- 
ally predominate. Pay the highest price 
and get good seed. For a small garden one 
packet is sufficient, giving at least 300 plants. 
In the North the seeds may be planted 
in a mild hotbed or coldframe from the 
15th of April to the first week in May. If 
you have no hotbed, procure from the grocer 
a few shallow boxes about three inches 
deep and of a size to be easily handled. 
Punch a few holes in the bottom of these 
ae j-=! | answers the 
= questions 
 f (SS) you want to ask: 
| . What, how and when to plant 
vegetables, grasses, flowers, plants, bulbs, ferns, 
palms, roses, shrubs, vines, berries, aquatics, etc.; 
also tools to use, insecticides, fertilizers, etc. 
complete Garden Guide and Reference Book for both 
amateurs and professionals, listing the best strains that 
are grown. 248 large pages, profusely illustrated with 
hundreds of photo-reproductions of 
Worthy novelties and dependable 
= standbys in vegetables and flowers : Quilled aster, very refined looking but flowers not 
so large as others. Sow seed from April 15 
Mailed to anyone on receipt of request mentioning this publication boxes for drainage and fll wittineeeeeiaM 
mold. Mix a few maple or other leaves 
Dreer’s Superb American-grown Asters old. 
with this, because when the young plants are 
Baieis ° ° being transplanted these leaves will stick 
for the American Climate to the smooth rootlets and protect them to 
We are Aster specialists and handle a carefully some extent from serious Injury. 
selected list of the best imported strains in Pack the earth slightly with a board 
ec ported s ; 
addition th American Br Naa acne plant the seeds about half an inch apart and 
one, yin aus GSpsciely Teuorimendes Bs cover with about one-fourth of an inch of 
being peculiarly adapted to our trying climatic 3 
oniclitione: soil. Water thoroughly and, to keep the 
Crimson King—A new sort with extra large rich, rosy soil moist, cover the boxes with brown paper. 
crimson flowers. Full of fire, brilliant for bedding or cut- Place the boxes ina south window where 
ting; blooms in September. 15c per pKt.; 2 pKts. 25c. the temperitire docs anothuicceino encom 
Pink Beauty—Another new yariety with delicate blush a rl d R ia 
pink chrysanthemum-like flowers in August and September. grees nor all below 40 degrees. emove the 
PRIS DiS VMS 22E brown paper when the small plants begin 
Superb Late Branching—This magnificent September ; 2 . 
blooming type is of strong, free growth, forming sturdy bushes to appear above the surface, which will be 
z to 24 ft. high, bearing their handsome flowers on long oa in about ten days. 
Ideal for cutting. We can supply in eight charming colors, ‘ 
| e e" sf ine Base Se hites azure blue, shell pink, pale tavenaes ueeP Should the plants appear to be growing : 
| 4 “eee Af pel imson, rose pink, deep rose and deep purple. c per pht., > 2 : 
| < f : BRiainean ction ch of the 8 colors for 60c. tall and spindly, raise them gently with the 
handle of a teaspoon and replant them deeper 
HENRY A. DREER in the soil. While a a plants may ‘die 
714 CHESTNUT STREET PHILADELPHIA from the effects of this operation, those that 
do survive will be strong and free blooming. 
Prepare a small bed about four feet square 
