Guide to Better Gardens 
Asters are among the most useful decorative late sum- 
jlX mer plants for the amateur home gardener. They are 
easy to grow, require only normal care and give an abun¬ 
dance of flowers in return for the care given. In warm sec¬ 
tions, seed can be sown directly in the garden after frost 
time. Here in the Northwest they should be started in flats 
indoors and the plants set out about the middle of May or 
thereabouts. 
Asters like a rich soil, preferably rather sandv or loamy. 
They should be cultivated regularly and watered before the 
soil becomes too dry. Each plant must have plenty of space 
to develop fully without being crowded. The tall branching 
varieties should be set about 15 to 18 inches apart each 
way, and the medium growing sorts 10 to 12 inches apart, 
while the dwarf types can be as close as 8 to 10 inches. 
Eew, if any, important flowering plants are as seriously 
attacked by disease as the Aster. The most important of 
these diseases is the Aster Wilt. 
Aster Wilt or stem rot is caused by a specific parasitic 
fungus. The disease is soil borne, meaning the fungus lives 
in the soil and is transmitted to the Aster plants from 
the soil. The fungus enters the plant through the root 
system, and gradually creeps up the stem through 
the vascular tissue and will eventually destroy the 
food and water bearing channels of the plant. When 
once introduced into the soil, the fungus persists in¬ 
definitely and may attack Aster plants which are 
growing there even years later. The spores of the fun¬ 
gus may be disseminated on Aster seed, on imple¬ 
ments used in working the soil, or on anything which 
comes in contact with a diseased plant. It is, there¬ 
fore, very evident that the wilt disease is widespread 
wherever Asters have been grown. So far, there is no 
known method of combating this disease, except by 
the use of wilt resistant seed. 
Aster Super Giants are the latest development in 
the Aster field. The plants are robust and strong 
growing, 2% to 3 feet tall with six or eight long, non¬ 
lateral stems per plant. The flowers are extremely 
large, as much as 6 or 8 inches across, with numerous 
long, graceful feathery interlacing petals. Their full 
shaggy effect has been likened to some of the looser 
varieties of Chrysanthemum. So far there are only 
two colors in the group. Los Angeles, a lovely soft 
shell pink, blending to creamy pink in the center. 
Packet, 10c. El Monte, a deep glowing crimson, 
the only large flowered crimson Aster on the market. 
The later variety is an earlier bloomer and is there¬ 
fore suitabfe for planting in all localities. Pkt., 20c 
The Improved CregoWilt Resistant type is prob- 
ablv the best known of all Asters and is the most gen¬ 
erally used. All varieties of this type are wilt resis¬ 
tant. The plants are about 2^ feet tall, branching in 
habit with long, strong stems, making the flowers 
well adapted to cutting as well as for garden use. 
The blossoms are good size, 4 to 5 inches across, 
fluffy, with numerous long, slender, curly tipped 
petals, full centered and of good substance. We offer 
the following varieties: white, shell pink, deep rose. 
ASTER AURORA GOLDEN SHEAF 
crimson, orchid, azure blue, purple and mixed. 
Packets, 10c 
The Improved Giant California Sunshine type 
is the highest development in its class, rightly called 
the most beautiful Aster in the world. The flowers, 4 
to 5 inches across, are among the loveliest of all 
Asters, composed of a single row of loosely placed 
outer petals, contrasting with the unique quill-like 
center discs. The stems are long and extremely heavy, 
practically without lateral branches, while the plants 
are from 2 to 3 feet in height. They are mid to late 
season blooming. None of the varieties have been 
developed in wilt resistant strains. We offer the fol¬ 
lowing varieties: white, pink, lavender, violet, car¬ 
mine and mixed. Packets, 10c. 
The Improved Giants of California curled and 
interlaced Aster. Plants are somewhat taller than the 
Super Giants and carry a few lateral branches. They 
reach a height of about 3 feet and usually carry from 
8 to 10 or even 12 flowers per plant. The flowers are 
large and full, 4 to 5 inches across, with graceful, 
curly tipped petals. Late bloomers so seed should be 
started early indoors in flats. We offer the following 
varieties: white, peach blossom, light blue, deep 
rose, dark purple and mixed. Packets, lOc. 
The Improved Queen of the Market are some¬ 
what different from the old original strains. They 
have been developed for use as cut flowers as well as 
for border work with the result that the stems are 
comparatively long, about 10 to 12 inches, and 
strong. The plants are about 18 to 20 inches tall and 
bear generous quantities of medium sized, 2^2 to 
3-inch flowers. We offer the following varieties: 
white, light blue, deep rose, scarlet, purple, peach 
blossom and mixed. Packets, lOc. 
Other types of Asters listed under Annuals and 
Perennials. 
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