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FLOWER SEEDS FOR FLORISTS 
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Stem Rot RESISTANT ASTERS 
I N THE production of these strains, that fundamental law of all life, "survival of the fit- 
est" is made use of. Growers of Asters, as well as other seed crops, should be familiar 
with and make use of its simple application. When a lot of Asters drop out badly with rot, 
a few survivors will be found; not coming in contact with rot might be responsible for some, 
but generally these survivors are more resistant. If, say a half-dozen of the cleanest and 
most vigorous are selected, and seed of them saved and grown on separately the following 
season, some should be found definitely more resistant than others. If out of these the 
most promising lot is selected, and this selecting process is carried on, a resistant strain 
will result. In making such selections, perfection in form and doubleness of flower must, 
of course, be considered. 
Ordinarily, Asters will not cross under cloth houses, though we have known them to do 
so in the field. The resistant strains are sometimes carried away by various other troubles, 
especially forms of rust as well as rot, other than the ordinary stem rot. Very wet seasons 
such as we experienced the past year are especially favorable to trouble of this nature. 
Possibilities for breeding against such rot and rust can be developed to better advantage 
in our cloth houses, than in California, where conditions are more favorable for the pro¬ 
duction of seed. 
The transplanting of Asters, and most other plants as well, is more of a check or injury 
than we generally realize. Sowing seed direct overcomes this and makes a difference in 
their growth, but it brings the crop in some later and shorter stemmed. In planting out, do 
so on a cloudy, cool day if possible, and water promptly. When Asters are ordinarily planted 
in the field and without water they brace up in a few days and grow right along, but all too 
frequently the open field crop and method of handling is a failure; and we wonder why. 
We do not believe any florist crop, during an average season, can be made profitable 
without the protection of water, especially Asters. 
Our field of the original Ball White Aster grown during 1903 at Berteau and Western Ave., Chicago. 
Early flowering in most classes of plants is at cost of size and stems. 
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