FLOWER SEEDS FOR FLORISTS 
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A check lot of ordinary strains of asters in the foreground with rot resistant in the background. 
Stem Rot RESISTANT ASTERS 
R esistant asters have been bred to overcome the disease ordinarily referred to as stem rot. 
This work has been remarkably successful, as will be noted in the above photo. Stem rot some¬ 
times destroys young plants; but it usually shows up later; sometimes as the flowers are ready to 
open, the plant drops over from the fatal rot. The breeding of these better strains is very simple. 
It is based on the fact that every seed-produced plant differs from every other. If a lot of asters go 
down with rot nearly 100%, as sometimes happens, the survivors are carefully examined and seed 
saved separately from a few of the cleanest. The following year each lot is grown on separately, 
and at least some of these lots will be found resistant. This selective process is repeated, and in 
several years careful work you will have a resistant strain. However, the strains are not resistant 
to all diseases asters are subject to, such as the "ydl° ws /' various forms of rust, and rot, the general 
effect of which might and sometimes is mistaken for stem rot. Even in soil not at all affected with 
this rot, these strains will be safer and generally more vigorous and satisfactory. 
We have pioneered interest in these new asters and are doing much work in their development. 
All varieties we have to offer that are not of our origination, with the few exceptions noted, have 
been thoroughly tested in our trial grounds. These grounds have been growing asters for five years. 
The soil is so filled with aster rot that only highly resistant strains will survive. These conditions only 
make it possible to select or develop such strains. 
We believe our list on the following pages covers all the most resistant varieties available today. 
We have had confidence and interest in these strains since Dr. L. R. Jones of the University of Wis¬ 
consin led the way in their development. We are very confident that the future of all American 
Asters lies in strains that, will be 100% resistant to rot. 
THE COMBINATION OF RESISTANT STRAINS AND CLOTH HOUSES WILL 
RESTORE ASTERS TO THE HEAD OF THE LIST OF ALL SUMMER CUT FLOWERS. 
And don't overlook this — "we pay postage and insurance on all orders 
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