INC. 
FLOWER 
SEEDS FOR FLORISTS 
/ / 
I N MOST SECTIONS of our country it is 
ordinarily impossible to produce clean, 
long-stemmed asters without the protec¬ 
tion of cloth houses. There are two ad¬ 
vantages in this protection. The most im¬ 
portant one is to bar a very little fellow 
known as the leaf hopper that infects asters 
with that fatal disease “yellows”. In a 
tightly maintained cloth house, asters will 
be entirely free of this. Th e second ad¬ 
vantage of these houses is the protection 
they afford against the strong sun and wind 
of mid-summer. This protection produces 
longer stemmed, cleaner, and larger flowers. 
Asters are not alone in enjoying this 
summer protection. There are very few flowers, in fact, but what draw up longer stemmed and cleaner 
under the shelter of cloth. We feel sure any retail business should take advantage of such a house, 
especially where summer temperatures are trying. As market growers we find asters pay out best in 
them. In fact, it is generally impossible, in the middle states, to get much out of asters in the open. 
Our Ball Red Book provides details for their construction. However, improvements suggest them¬ 
selves annually. Strengthening them against high winds is most important. We made a chan ge the 
past season in running an additional wire between the regular post wires. This provides a wire 
every I 6 T 2 feet. We also sewed our cloth to all wires, preventing much waving of the cloth in a 
high wind. Also, we do not longer use the eye staples for supporting wire to posts because con¬ 
tinual friction wears wire through. Instead we run the wire through a hole in the post. Maintaining 
wires quite tight and locating the house in a wind-sheltered position should be stressed. We are 
glad to be of such further service as we can be in this connection. 
These houses should be located on as wind-protected a position as is available 
and the post spacing must be exact. 
CLOTH HOUSES 
BALL RESISTANT ASTER LIST 
W E HAVE NOT only pioneered interest in rot resistant asters but are actively working on the 
development of these strains in all varieties. In the following list the degree of resistance 
will run from 75% to practically 100 % in our diseased soil. We occasionally get complaints 
to the contrary. When this happens, it is perfectly clear to us that the cause will be found in disease 
or rust other than the wide spread stem rot they are bred to resist. Even in soil not infected with 
stem rot, we feel sure these strains will be found more vigorous and safer than the ordinary ones. 
Dates given are for flowering in the latitude of Chicago and seem to vary some every season, probably 
due to weather conditions. 
THE BEST COLORS. 
Good white asters usually enjoy the most active demand in any market. In the order of their value 
as we find them, we suggest using the colors as follows: White, Rose-pink, Peach Blossom-pink, 
Azure Blue or Lavender, Deep Rose, Orchid, Shell Pink, Purple, Crimson. The varieties starred (*) 
rank especially high with us from the standpoint of resistance, color, or both. 
FOUR EXCELLENT ‘'BALL" ASTERS. 
*Ball White — late. A typical American Branching type, fine stems and size. The finest standard American 
cut flower variety. Sept. 10-15. 
*Ball Deep Rose. Bright shade of deep rose, attractively incurved. Pictured on front cover. Medium size, 
long-stemmed and highly resistant. Colored cover picture is good for color and incurved form, but size is 
exaggerated some as flowers were completely developed when photo was taken. In full crop between 
Queen of the Market and the Royals. One of our most successful productions. Aug. 20-Sept. 1. 
*Ball Deep Purple. Pictured in foreground of front cover. As will be noted, this comes in with our Ball 
Deep Rose and has the same long stem and high resistance. An attractive deep purple. Both Ball Deep 
Rose and Ball Deep Purple are in full crop and cut out before the main supply gets in and this adds to their 
value. Aug. 20-Sept. 1. 
* Ball Early Phlox Pink. Flowers about a week earlier than our original strain and is a much deeper shade 
of rose pink. This very excellent strain will be found a first class commercial one. Sept. 10-15. 
[ 2 ] 
PRICES on any of the above. Each: Tr. Pkt. 50c/ 34 oz. 65c,- 1 oz. S2.00. 
Usually the more stock you grow the less will be the average returns. Don't overdo. 
