66 
D. M . FERRY & CO'S DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 
ASTER 
The Aster, in its many varieties, is unsurpassed for bedding and cutting, and is not only one of the most profitable annuals 
for the professional florist but also one of the most satisfactory for the home garden. The great diversity of size, color, form 
and season of blooming makes it one of the most suitable plants for supplying cut flowers. The plants are usually of vigorous 
growth and so hardy that they endure a slight frost without serious injury. By planting the different strains and at different 
times, one may have in the latitude of Detroit a constant succession of bloom from the last of July till the middle of October 
without the aid of a greenhouse or even a hotbed. 
Seed may be sown outdoors as early in spring as the ground is warm and dry, or for earlier blooming may be started indoors 
or in a cold frame and transplanted in the open ground after danger of killing frost is over. If conditions are favorable they will 
usually do well in any well prepared garden soil but a strong loam that has been well fertilized the previous year is preferable. 
In planting cover the seed with about one-fourth inch of fine soil firmly pressed down. The rows for most of the varieties should 
be aoout one and one-half feet apart. When about one to two inches high, thin to sixteen inches apart in the row. It is de¬ 
sirable during warm and dry weather to water thoroughly the plants two or three times a week, preferably early in the morning 
or evening. It is desirable lo change the location as often as practicable. 
Insects, such as the red spider, may be kept at bay by frequently spraying with clear water, or for insects that eat the 
foliage add one-fourth teaspoonful of Paris Green to ten gallons of water. Sprinkle with tobacco water ordusttokeep off the 
plant louse. We offer choice seed that has been grown for us from the best types by the most skilful cultivators in America 
and Europe and which is more certain to give good results than most of that on the market. 
C i r ^ lants °f medium size and branching habit, about eighteen inches high, extremely 
x^xird Hidity I it early and producing abundantly on long stems blooms of large size, often four 
inches in diameter. The petals are long and recurved, of open Comet type and unusually graceful in th ?ir seemingly care¬ 
less arrangement. These asters have the desirable combination of extreme earliness, large size and splendid cutting qualities. 
Known also as Express Comet. 
White. The largest early white aster. Oz. $1.50. Pkt. 10c. Rose. The earliest red aster. Oz. $1.50. Pkt. 10c. 
The Bride. A distinctive blush white. Oz. $1.50. “ 10c. Dark Blue. The earliest large deep blue. Oz. $1.50. “ 10c. 
Mixed. The four varieties above. Oz. $1.50. “ i0c. 
Hohenzollern Silver Lilac. A charmingly delicate shade; a little later than the extra early Hohenzollern. Oz. $1.50_ “ 10c. 
Queen of the Market sira^leon 
account of earliness as well as profuse 
blooming and wide range of colors. The 
plants are of branching habit, about 
eighteen inches high, bearing on long 
stems from ten to fifteen finely formed 
double flowers of medium size. Fine 
for cutting. The colors include white, 
pink, deep rose, light blue, dark blue, 
violet and crimson. This class is known 
also as Queen of the Earlies. Mixed. 
Oz. 75c ...Pkt. 10c. 
Victoria 
An early strain much 
superior to the <>1 I 
type of Victoria. The 
flowers are large, often three and one- 
half inches across and are very full in the 
center. The petals are broad and thick 
and curve outward, overlapping so regu¬ 
larly as to resemble those of the double 
dahlia. Plants about eighteen inches high 
and very free flowering. 
White. Clear white, one of the 
most useful. Oz. $1.25. Pkt. 10c. 
Light Blue. Light lavender blue, 
very free flowering. Oz. $1.25.. 44 10c. 
Peach Blossom. Delicate shade of 
rose. Oz. $1.25. 44 10c. 
Violet. Oz. $1.25. 44 10c. 
Deep Red. Brilliant carmine sha le 44 10c. 
Dark Blue. Oz. $1 25. 44 10c. 
Crimson. Oz. $1.25. 44 10c. 
Mixed. Oz. $1.25. . 44 10c. 
i 1 This very desirable, me- 
Uaybreak dium early variety is a 
compact, upright growing, branching 
plant. Flowers borne on long stems, al¬ 
most round, exceptionally well formed 
and very double with regularly incurved 
petals. * The color is a delicate light 
pink. Height fifteen to twenty inches. 
Oz. $1.50. Pkt. 10c. 
13 •. Similar to Daybreak but pure 
Jr urity white. One of the best early 
white asters. An excellent variety for 
cutting. Oz. $1.50. Pkt. 10c. 
J rv l A remarkably lieauti- 
lYilkadO rmk ful mid-season aster 
of very large size and fine form, at first, 
white but changing gradually to light 
rose or rose with lavender tint. The 
petals are long, rather flat, some of them 
slightly curved and twisted, and cover 
well the centers of the flowers. Plants 
about two feet high, branching and bear 
very large dowel’s on stems twelve to 
sixteen inches long. Known also as 
Rochester. Oz. $1.50.Pkt. 15c. 
