^^Flower Seeds for Florists^^ 
GOOD ASTERS 
The past season has produced the usual number of 
failures and profitable Aster crops. As usual good flowers 
have paid generally quite well; problem is how to escape 
rot and produce such flowers. No question about the 
superiority of rot resistant strains, for they are never sent 
out as such unless they stand up close to 100% in thoroly 
sick soil that will completely destroy any regular strain. 
But—when exposed to checks in growth, excessively wet 
or dry soil or forms of rot they are not bred to resist, the 
rot proof strains will frequently go down, and when the 
same location is used the third season, the accumulation 
of Aster rot is usually strong enuf to overcome them. Some 
growers find it necessary to change locations annually, 
but the cause of most failures, we believe, is weakening 
their resistance thru a check to growth in one form or 
another. A big check is too early sowing and transplant¬ 
ing several times. That hurts, we believe, not only thru 
the wilt or check they get, but thru not growing along 
freely because of too low early spring temperatures. A 
temperature of 55-60 is necessary to maintain free growth. 
Careless watering thru which the perhaps overcrowded 
seedlings remain wet overnight in a close atmosphere is 
thoroly bad. We know that the early start and trans¬ 
planting has a weakening effect thru the fact that when 
sown direct—where they are to flower and not trans¬ 
planted, they generally come thru clean, but this, of 
course, means a late start and short stems, for they tend 
to flower when their season comes to do so regardless of 
growth they haven’t had tirne to make. Our compromise 
on these two plans is to sow in a well prepared bed of 
sterilized soil in the greenhouse, a month before they can 
be transplanted. In new clean soil this generally gives 
good results. The “yellows” is a virulent disease that 
yellows and draws the foliage and growth. It can only 
be avoided by growing in a tight cloth house that will bar 
the leaf hopper that alone is responsible for its spread. 
In conclusion, if you are planning to grow acres of Asters, 
remember that the more you grow of any crop, the less 
returns you will average for it, so, for your own sake as 
well as for the industry, grow first class stock and don’t 
overdo. 
Your Aster Seed 
Most of the world’s Aster seed is produced in Cali¬ 
fornia in such fields as pictured below. Climatic condi¬ 
tions there develop and mature it perfectly. We thoroly 
go over these fields when in flower and check varieties and 
strains. The new crop is usually received by us in Novem¬ 
ber and is at once tested for germination after which it 
is ready for you. 
Rot Resistant Strains 
These strains are developed thru the principle of “sur¬ 
vival of the fittest.” Extensive single plant selection work 
is carried out in their production. This not only leaves 
them resistant to the ordinary stem rot, but when other 
desirable points are kept in mind, single plant selection 
work tends to improve types as well. When Asters fail 
to be resistant for you it is because of a variety of rot 
they are not bred to resist or, unfavorable growing con¬ 
ditions that greatly weaken them—or both. We are as 
certain as we can be that these strains are superior. For 
this reason we do not list regular varieties, except such as 
are not available in resistant form. 
All our aster seed is grown for us under the ideal climatic conditions of California where strong sun and absence of rain through the 
growing season insure perfectly matured seed. 
Greenhouse asters are safest on raised beds. 
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