ASTER AURORA GOLDEN SHEAF 
ASTERS are among the most useful decorative 
jlJl late summer plants for the amateur home gar¬ 
dener. They are easy to grow, require only normal 
care and give an abundance of flowers in return for 
the care given. In warm sections, 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 sandy 
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. 
Few, 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 chan¬ 
nels of the plant. When once introduced into the 
soil, the fungus persists indefinitely and may attack 
Aster plants which are growing there even years 
later. The spores of the fungus may be disseminated 
on Aster seed, on implements used in working the soil, or 
on anything which comes in contact with a diseased plant. 
It is, therefore, very evident that the wilt disease is wide¬ 
spread 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 therefore suitable 
for planting in all localities. Pkt., 20c. 
The Improved Crego Wilt Resistant type is probably 
the best known of all Asters and is the most generally 
used. All varieties of this type are wilt resistant. 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, crimson, orchid, azure blue, 
purple and mixed. Packets, lOc. 
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 lew 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% 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. Page 18. 
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