HENDERSON'S GARDEN GUIDE AND RECORD. 33 



HOW TO GROW ASTERS.— Continued. 



soot, or a dusting of lime incorporated with the soil in the drills. A shutter made of laths 

 with 1 3^inch openings, supported by stakes over the bed, will break the force of the Bua 

 and check evaporation from the soil, and prevent a crust from forming on the surface, 

 through which seedlings cannot always penetrate, or thin muslin may be substituted for 

 the shutter. 



ASTER IN BEDS AND BORDERS. Asters to be grown and flowered in perfection 

 require a richly manured, loamy soil, worked deep and fine. A gravelly subsoil is the ideal 

 for drainage, but if the subsoil is heavy, it should be under-drained if possible; if not, then 

 loosen it, but do not bring any subsoil to the surface. The condition of the soil is important 

 in Aster culture for best results for the plants are hearty feeders, and we must get them to 

 root as deeply as possible for reasons before explained. Keep the ground free from weeds 

 and frequently stirred, but do not go deep enough to injure the surface roots. When well 

 in bud, a top dressing of rotted stable manure among the plants not only assists in nourish- 

 ing the plants, but keeps the surface of the soil cool and moist. It is only when grown 

 under such conditions that really fine flowers can be produced and the plants hold out. 

 Fresh manure should never be used in Aster culture, as it often causes the plants to look 

 scorched. Occasional applications of liquid fertilizer, or manure water, not too strong, 

 nor must it touch the foUage, greatly assists in producing magnificent flowers. 



The immense long-stemmed Aster flowers so often seen in the florist's windows and 

 at exhibitions are produced by allowing the well-grown plants to carry but five or six main 

 stems, each with its terminal flower; all other stems, side branches and buds are removed to 

 throw the full vigor of the plant into the few flowers remaining. 



Large-growing Asters, such as tall types of Victoria, Perfection, Comet, In\'incible, 

 Semple's, etc. , should be planted about 1 2 inches apart. The medium-dwarf types; Mignon, 

 Dwarf Chrysanthemum-flowered, Dwarf Victoria, etc., 10 inches apart, while the compact 

 Tom Thumb or edging Asters should go 6 inches apart. 



Asters, especially those of the dwarf compact types, are very decorative as pot plants; 

 for this purpose it is only necessary to lift the plants when in bud, disturbing the ball of 

 earth as little as possible, and pot them. Water them liberally; shade for a few days 

 from the hot sun until root action has resumed. 



H 



oyv to vJrow 1 ansies, 



The pansy is hardy with slight protection, and thrives best when grown cool. In hot 

 exposed situations its deteriorates rapidly. Two methods of raising pansy seedlings are 

 practiced; one in autumn, and the other in spring. 



PANSIES FROM AUTUMN-SOWN SEED. Sow the seed thinly in July or August 

 in the open ground on a finely prepared seedbed sheltered from hot sun, or protect with a 

 light covering of salt hay or straw manure, to keep the groimd moist until the seedlings are 

 up, when the covering is to be lifted. Thin the seedlings to 3 or 4 inches apart — keep well 

 watered and in about 6 weeks the young plants can be removed to their permanent flowering 

 quarters, where they must be again covered with salt hay to a depth of about 3 inches after 

 freezing weather sets in. Pansies wintered in this way make sturdy clumps and flower 

 early and freely the succeeding spring. Another way to winter over autumn-grown seed- 

 lings is to transplant them 3 to 4 inches apart according to their size into coldframes (treat 

 as directed for coldframes on page 15), and transplant to flowering quarters as early in the 

 spring as possible. 



PANSIES FROM SPRING-SOWN SEED. Any time from the 1st of February 

 to April, the earlier the better, the seeds may be so\mi in shallow boxes or seed pans of fine 

 rich soil and placed in a greenhouse, hotbed or window, where the temperature averages 

 65°. Sow thinly — cover about one-quarter of an inch deep, then press the surface wth a 

 board — do not allow the surface to dry out, and in about three weeks the seedlings should 

 be large enough to be transplanted an inch or two apart into similar boxes or p;xns of 

 fresh soil. If these transplanted seedlings get too crowded before they can be set in open 

 ground, a third transplanting may have to be done to keep the plants from getting lanky 

 and spindly. Keep them a.s hardy as possible by giving air on favorable occasions. -Another 

 way to raise spring-sown pansies is to sow the seed thinly in a col(''r:ime about March, and 

 transplant when the weather is favorable and the plants are of sufficient size. 



