more air. Plant in garden as soon as the weather and ground 
are suitable. 
The seedlings will not freeze, but if ground is cold and too 
wet, they may suffer. 
Outside sowing may be done in Spring as soon as the soil 
is dry and warm enough to work. Choose an open sunny 
location to start the young plants. When the seedlings have 
their third leaf, transplant them to their final home in beds 
or borders, 12 to 18 inches apart, in rows 18 to 24 inches 
wide. This method is better than sowing seeds directly in 
the garden. Remember always that Asters love the sunlight. 
When sowing seed early in the house, either pots, seed- 
pans or flats (shallow boxes about four inches deep) may be 
used; a good compost for the purpose being prepared by 
mixing equal parts of thoroughly decayed leaf mould and 
sandy loam. If the loam is of a heavy nature, add sufficient 
sharp sand to make all porous. 
Sow the seed thinly broadcast, and cover with fine soil 
which should be lightly pressed to bring in firm contact 
with the seed. Water very carefully, and only when the soil 
becomes dry, and to conserve moisture and hurry germina¬ 
tion, the pots, or boxes, may be covered with a sheet of 
glass which may be shaded with paper. The glass must be 
removed as soon as the seedlings break through the soil, for 
if allowed to remain the plants would rapidly become very 
weak and spindly. 
Asters respond most generously to cultivation. For fine 
large blooms, long stems and profuse flowering, plow or 
spade and work the ground a week or two before planting, 
enriching it with well rotted sheep or other manure, then 
spread with air-slaked lime or wood ashes. Fresh manure is 
harmful. A mulch (powdery covering over the soil's sur¬ 
face) of fine dust, not deeper than 2 inches, should be main¬ 
tained throughout the summer. For very largest blooms, re¬ 
move all the side flower shoots so that only 4 to 6 remain. 
To pot Asters, remove them from the ground with a good 
ball of earth around the roots just before they begin flower¬ 
ing. Water liberally, and keep in light shade until the roots 
resume growth. For potting use the dwarf varieties. 
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