"FLOWER SEEDS 
FOR FLORISTS" 
YOUR ASTER SEED 
E RRORS in selecting varieties of Asters, or any other crop, are 
sometimes costly. Considering that it costs no more to grow 
varieties suitable to your conditions and demands, the selec¬ 
tion of the right kind becomes important. Asters have been a 
leading specialty with us since 1903. We promptly recognized the 
great value of the successful breeding of resistant strains that was 
so well demonstrated and begun by Dr. L. R. Jones of the Uni¬ 
versity of Wisconsin. This work has since been carried on by 
Bodger Seeds, Ltd., of California, and by ourselves at West Chi¬ 
cago, Illinois. All our Aster seed is grown for us by Bodgers under 
our personal supervision. Nowhere in the world can Aster seed be 
so well produced and matured as under California conditions. As 
usual, there will be a few shortages this season; and if seed is not 
ordered until March or April, some of these shortages will be felt. 
BALL RESISTANT ASTERS 
(12,000 seeds per ounce). 
TWELVE BEST VARIETIES 
T HIS list is based not only on our experience with them as mar¬ 
ket growers, but on the demand from all sections as well. This 
gives a definite and fairly dependable preferred list. They are, 
furthermore, listed in the order of their value on the above basis. 
It will be noted that no changes have been made from last year’s 
Twelve Best except some in the order of their value, and this 
change is based on seed sales. Dates are for flowering in our lati¬ 
tude, and will vary. 
Ball Deep Rose. Clearly tops the list for sales with us. Attractive 
shade of deep rose, somewhat incurved and of medium size. Also 
extra long-stemmed and fully resistant. One of our finest pro¬ 
ductions. Aug. 25 to Sept. 5. See Novelty pages for further 
description. 
Ball White Late. Typical American Branching type and habit. 
Long-stemmed, large and fully double, though not quite so full 
petaled as our Ball White Early that it follows in flowering sea¬ 
son. Generally accepted as the best strain of Late Branching 
White. Sept. 10 to 15. 
Ball Deep Purple. An attractive bright deep purple, much brighter 
and longer stemmed than Royal Purple, also larger. This variety 
is a duplicate of our Ball Deep Rose except in color. Both are 
cut out before the midseason crop gets in. Aug. 25 to Sept. 5. 
See Novelty pages for further description. 
Branching Azure-Blue. Clear mid- or lavender-blue. A good clear 
market color that sells anywhere. Long-stemmed and highly re¬ 
sistant. Sept. 15 to 20. 
Boll Phlox Pink. Fairly light rose-pink, the color deepening with 
full development. An excellent light color for cutting, with per¬ 
fect American Branching habit. Sept. 5 to 10. 
Ball White Early. A resistant selection from our original Ball 
White. The selection has not left it quite true to the original 
form, but it is a choice white that immediately follows the Royals. 
Sept. 5 to 10. 
Royal White. Excellent, fairly early commercial white. Nice stems 
and branching habit. Aug. 25 to Sept. 1. 
Royal Azure-Blue. Same color as Branching Azure-Blue. A pleas¬ 
ing color and a very good market variety. Sept. 5 to 10. 
Royal Shell-Pink. Bright shade of Semple or Shell-Pink with 
extra large flowers for this class. Medium long-stemmed. For 
both size and color an excellent commercial variety. Sept. 1 to 5. 
Queen of the Market Mid-Blue. A very good early mid-blue; 
valuable because of early flowering. July 15. 
Queen of the Market White. The earliest good cut flower white. 
Fair size and good branching habit. A good variety and class 
for indoor growing if soil is clean. Under our conditions none 
of the Queen of the Markets are as resistant as the stronger 
and later classes. July 15 to 20. 
American Beauty Silvery Rose. Fairly deep, pleasing rose, several 
shades deeper than our Phlox Pink. Very much non-lateral. 
Large flowered and long-stemmed. Introduced by us last season, 
and reports are generally favorable. Sept. 15 to 20. 
Twelve Best Mixture. Specially selected mixture of above varie¬ 
ties; provides a succession of flowers from July to late September. 
PRICES ON ALL ROT-RESISTANT STRAINS, 
except where otherwise noted, ore os follows: 
Tr. pkt., 35c; % oz., 50c; 1 oz., $1.75. 
Classified List of Standard Varieties 
(The twelve best not included) 
QUEEN OF THE MARKET. Most popular early flowering class; 
of moderately strong growth, stem and size. Fairly resistant and 
much used for July flowering under glass—but fresh soil should 
be used. The two best varieties will be found among our Twelve 
Best. 
Crimson. Brighter than most crimsons making it valuable for cut¬ 
ting. 
Dark Blue. A rich bright shade of purple; highly resistant. 
Flesh-Pink. Delicate light pink, deepening as it matures. 
Scarlet. Rather heavy for cutting. 
ROYALS. This class follows Queen of the Market, and is a very 
popular and much used one because of excellent size and stems 
for the early flowering date that, however, varies some. Because 
of the value of this class, most kinds will be found among our 
Twelve Best. 
Purple. Bright purple; prefer Ball Deep Purple. 
AMERICAN COMETS. W e group the Cregos and Comets under 
this heading, because they are all of the same general type. 
All are attractive American Asters, producing more or less the 
same interlaced or fluffy petal effect. A highly attractive type, 
but does not stand shipping as well as the plain or incurved type. 
Comet, Blush Pink. Light or blush-pink. Valuable for earliness 
and very free flowering habit. Fairly long stem. Aug. 25. 
Tr. pkt., only. 
Comet, Cattleya. Very pleasing orchid-lavender. 
Tr. pkt., 40c; % oz., 70c; 1 oz., $2.50. 
Comet, Light Blue. Azure-blue; good for cut flowers. Early Sep 
tember. 
Comet, Rose. Fine large flowers; color a desirable deep rose shade. 
Comet, White. Fine large white; some earlier flowering than oth¬ 
ers in this class. 
Crego, Azure-Blue. A fine clear blue for cutting. Cregos, being 
long stemmed and large flowered, are generally preferred in this 
group. Sept. 10 to 15. 
Crego, Blue Flame. Fairly deep bright blue. Highly resistant and 
extra for stem. Sept. 5 to 10. 
Crego, Deep Rose. Fairly deep rose; a fine market variety. Sept. 
10 to 15. 
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