COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA 
67 
A grand cut flower and a highly pay¬ 
ing crop for that purpose. The most 
popular colors are the soft pink and 
lavender shades. They are extraordin¬ 
arily showy when planted in masses. They will stand more cold 
than cabbage and can be sown or set out quite early. If sown as 
late as June 1st, will give a good fall bloom, even in the North. 
LAVENDER GEM is the earliest cut flower variety, ROYAL the 
best for early market, DAYBREAK are ideal for pots, design work, 
bedding and borders. All these are extra good and early. MIKADO 
are medium early, a good type of branching asters, but they are not 
worth much for shipping. CREGO, OSTRICH FEATHER, PEER¬ 
LESS PINK, HEART OR FRANCE, AUTUMN GLORY, AMERICAN 
BEAUTY, KING are all late varieties. Of all asters KING is the 
best shipper and popular in cut flower markets. Most beautiful of 
all asters is CALIFORNIA GIANTS variety. The easiest aster to 
disbud is AMERICAN BEAUTY. In clean soil and on a piece of 
land with perfect drainage asters are seldom attacked by any kind 
of disease. 
CULTURE—Sow outside the latter part of April, cover the seed 
not more than y a of an inch, transplant into rows 2 feet apart and 
a foot apart in the row, as soon as the seedlings are large enough 
to handle. Early transplanting insures vigorous and healthy growth, 
the plants will be less apt to suffer from disease. If for bedding, 
space them foot apart each way. 
If you want to sell the blooms, plant in rich soil, cultivate every 
two weeks until the buds appear, when you must stop all cultiva¬ 
tion and keep the patch clean by pulling the weeds by hand. When 
they start to bloom mulch with tobacco stems to kill the root lice 
and keep the weeds in check. In blooming time keep a sharp watch 
for black beetle. Go through the field three times a day. If the 
bettles do show up, put about a pint of water and halfpint of 
gasoline in an old can and hold it under the bugs. They drop into 
it. These pests last only for a few days so the task is not as 
arduous as one might imagine. Or you can destroy these beetles by 
dusting with arsenate of lead, washing the open flowers clean before 
marketing them. 
For early blooming the seed is sown in March in pots, boxes, 
hot beds or greenhouses, but nothing is gained by sowing earlier. 
Plants from seed sown in January or February will not bloom a 
bit earlier than from seeds sown in March. 
In order to get choice extra large blooms you must not allow 
more than about 10 blooms to each plant. It will pay you to disbud, 
as choice flowers always sell for a good price. 
In the South Asters suffer from blight much more than in the 
North. The florists there grow asters under glass only, use the 
cleanest dirt they have and water them late enough in the afternoon 
to prevent burning but in time so that the foliage may get dry 
before night. 
AMERICAN BEAUTY ASTER 
In bloom from early July until killed by frost. Flowers 
almost globular, fully double, never showing any yellow cen¬ 
ters, born on extra stout stems 18-24 in. long. Of unsur¬ 
passed keeping qualities, excellent for shipping. Height 3 ft. 
ROSE-PINK—CRIMSON—LIGHT BLUE—CARMINE ROSE- 
PURPLE — LAVENDER — WHITE — SEPTEMBER PINK — 
BLACK BLUE, MIXED— Any color: T. pkt. 10c; % oz. 20c; 
oz. $1.40; lb. $14.00. 
DO NOT SOW aster seed before March. If you sow in January and 
February you may find yourself with a lot of plants that are too 
old—stems hard as wood through which sap cannot pass. Your plants 
will not be robust and healthy as they would be if sown after March 
1st. 
GIANT IMPROVED CREGO ASTER 
A magnificent American strain especially adapted to our 
climatic conditions. The plants form strong, branching 
hushes about 2 feet high bearing on long stems handsome 
chrysanthemum-like flowers averaging 4 inches or more 
across. In bloom from 2 to 3 weeks after the average type 
thus lengthening the aster season until after frost. Ex¬ 
tremely free flowering and a grand cut flower. 
AZURE BLUE, CRIMSON, FLESH PINK, LAVENDER, PURPLE. 
ROSE PINK SHELL PINK. WHITE. YELLOW. LAVENDER PINK'. 
LAVENDER ROSE or CATTLEYA, DARK VIOLET, MIXED. Any 
color: T. pkt. 10c; % oz. 15c; oz. $1.00; lb. $12.00. 
QUEEN OF THE MARKET ASTER 
An early aster, usually in full bloom, weeks before most other 
sorts begin to blossom. Plants are about 15 inches high, of graceful 
spreading habit; flowers of good size borne on long stems. 
CRIMSON, ROSE, PINK. FLESH, LIGHT BLUE, WHITE. SCAR¬ 
LET, DARK BLUE, DARK I. A VENDER. PURPLE, MIXED. Any 
color: T. pkt. 10c; oz. 60c; lb. $8.00. 
ASTER EXPRESS or EARLY WONDER 
Of the Comet type, flowers large and full, produced a few days 
ahead of the well known Queen of the Market. Height 20 in. DEEP 
PINK_WHITE—LAVENDER—DARK BLUE—MIXED. PRICE: Any 
color T. pkt. 20c; oz. 30c; oz. $2.00. 
THE ROYAL ASTER 
In size like Crego Aster, earlier, remaining in bloom for a 
longer period, the petals are broad, distinctly shell-shaped, giving 
an effect of shading that enhances the beauty of the color produc¬ 
ing a striking effect. Splendid for bouquets. Height about 2 feet. 
BLUE, WHITE. SHELL PINK, ROSE PINK. LAVENDER, PUR¬ 
PLE, MIXED. T. pkt. 10c; Vs oz. 15c; oz. $1.00. 
ASTER AURORA 
Very free flowering. Flowers 5 inches across with quilled centers 
and outer band of broad, long petals. The whole flower is a combina¬ 
tion of grace, daintiness and refined beauty. Branching, medium 
early and wilt resistant. Many colors. Height 2 ft. MIXED T. pkt. 
15c; Vs oz. 30c; 1 oz. $2.00. 
KING ASTER 
These have very narrow petals like needles, are very double and 
loom from August to October. Invaluable for cutting. Height - 
iches. MIXED: % oz. 15c; oz. 80c; lb. $10.00; T. pkt. 10c. 
ASTER DWARF BOQUET 
An extra early flowering class of dwarf upright, compact growth, 
earing double flowers about 1% In. across. An ideal plant for spring 
ales especially when potted. Height 10 in. Many colors. MIXED. 
'. pkt. 10c; % oz. 20c; oz. $1.40. 
Aster Daybreak 
