“Supreme Quality 
Flower Seeds 
"WILT-RESISTANT" MEANS 
"ASTER INSURANCE" 
To a Large Degree and at Only a Small Seed Cost 
Over the "Regular Strains" of Same 
Field view of Asters in California (variety "Los Angeles"), 
where most of the world's supply of high grade Aster seed 
comes from, especially "wilt-resistant" strains. 
Use of “ Wilt-Resistant ” 
Strains of Asters 
Effective Disease Control 
(Excerpt from the Florists' Review. 1935) 
The suitability of recently developed 
wilt-resistant strains of Asters has 
been tested at Cornell University 
(New York) during the past three 
years. A report of the results of the 
trials is made available here. 
By C. E. F. GUTERMAN 
Mr. Guterman states, as a result oi his trials at Cornell University, 
that the use oi wilt-resistant strains oi asters is by all means 
the most economical and eifective method oi control oi aster wilt. 
"Wilt or stem rot, caused chiefly by fungus, is one of the most 
wide-spread and serious diseases to which the China aster is 
susceptible. Plants may become infected at practically any stage 
of growth. With young seedlings damping off usually results, 
while in older plants the first evidence of infection is a slight 
yellowing of the foliage followed by sudden wilting. 
Closer examination will reveal a partially or completely decayed 
root system, dark brown necrotic areas on the stem and discolor¬ 
ation of the woody elements within the stem. In advanced stages, 
the stem may be entirely rotted away at the soil line. 
Use oi Same Soil 
The casual fungus lives in the soil from year to year and, in many 
cases, is introduced initially on infested seed or diseased trans¬ 
plants. Continued use of the same piece of ground for aster 
culture serves to increase the amount of fungus present in the soil, 
with the result that the disease becomes severer each succeeding 
season. 
The development of wilt-resistant strains of asters by plant path¬ 
ologists, in cooperation with commercial seedsmen has made 
possible an economical and effective means of control for the 
disease. 
Prior to the availability of these wilt-resistant strains, measures of 
control, such as seed sterilization, sanitation, rotation and disin¬ 
festation of or changing the soil, were used by florists with 
little success. 
Soil "Aster-Sick" 
Accordingly, representative types of commercial wilt-resistant and 
nonresistant asters donated by seedsmen have been grown for 
the past three years in experimental plots on the Cornell Uni¬ 
versity campus, Ithaca, N. Y., in cooperation with the department 
of floriculture of the university. The land used in these tests has 
been planted continuously with asters for at least eight years, 
thus assuring a heavy infestation of the wilt fungus. That the 
soil was thoroughly "aster-sick" is evidenced by practically 100 
per cent losses with the nonresistant strains over the three-year 
period." 
GLADIOLUS PICARDY BLOOMS COMMANDED A PREMIUM IN THE MARKET THE PAST SEASON. 
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