

ASTERS are among the most useful, 
decorative, late summer plants for the 
amateur gardener. They are easily grown 
requiring only a normal amount of care 
for the abundance of flowers they will give 
in return. In warm sections seed can be 
sown directly in the garden after first 
frosts. Here in the Northwest they 
should be started in flats indoors and 
plants set out about the middle of May 
or thereabouts. 
Asters prefer a rich soil rather than a 
sandy loam. They should be cultivated 
regularly and watered before the soil 
becomes too dry. Every plant must have 
plenty of space to develop fully without 
being crowded. The tall branching va- 
riety 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. 
Improved Crego Wilt-Resistant Aster. 
Beautiful, large colorful flowers 4 to 5 
inches in diameter. Blooms are fully 
double, about 21% inches thick, carried 
on long, strong stems, The individual 
petals are gracefully curled and twisted, 
giving the whole flower an artistic ap- 
pearance not unlike a Japanese Chry- 
santhemum. Plants grow about 21% feet 
tall and bloom from late August until the 
middle of October. Colors: White, 
shell pink, deep rose, crimson, orchid, 
azure blue, purple, lavender and mixed. 
Packet 10c. 
Improved California Sunshine Aster. The 
flowers are 4 to 5 inches across, are com- 
posed of a single row.of loosely placed 
outer petals, which contrast with the 
unique yellow quill-like center disc. 
Stems are long ind heavy, on plants 2 to 
3 feet in height. Mixed. Packet, 10c. 
Super Giant El Monte Aster. Deep 
glowing crimson blooms composed of 
daintily interlaced bloom-like petals 
somewhat similar in form to Giant Cali- 
fornia, but earlier and much larger. The 
huge flowers are borne on unusually 
heavy, non-lateral base-branching stems. — 
Packets, 10c. 
Super Giant Los Angeles Aster. Same 
type as the El Monte, however, the color 
is a pure shell pink blending to creamy 
pink in the center. Packet, 10c. 
AGERATUM (Flossflower). A\n attrac- 
tive herbaceous annual and one of the 
most popular summer flowering plants 
grown from seed. It is covered with 
blossoms from early summer until frost and 
excellent for borders, edgings, or pots. 
Combines with Columbines, Pink Sweet 
Williams, French Marigold and Salpi- 
glossis. Varieties: Blue Perfection Me- 
dium, grows 8 inches tall, compact plant 
bearing large vivid dark purple flowers, 
freely produced; Midget Blue, a very 
fine dwarf only 2 to 3 inches high. 
Growth is very uniform and even, the 
entire plant is practically smothered with 
small blue flowers; Little Dorrit, white, 
midget, Packet, 10c. 
ALYSSUM. Annual and perennial, 
easily grown from seed in any good 
garden soil and especially suited in 
rockeries and edges in open sunny situ- 
ations. The foliage tends to be grayish 
and the flowers are white, violet or — 
yellow. Grows best in rich, light, well 
fertilized loam. Combines exceedingly 
well with Violets, Forget-me-nots, Gyp- 
sophila. Varieties: Benthami Martiumum 
(hA) Sweet white, honey scented, 
grows 1 foot tall; Little Gem (hA) grows 
4 inches, the plants are covered with — 
snow-white blossoms; Gold Dust (Saxa- 
tile Compactum) (hP) a perennial yellow 
type, growing 1 foot tall; Violet Queen 
(hA) a beautiful, fragrant sweet Atyssum 
of bright clear violet hue, holding its 
colors throughout the hottest, driest sum- 
mer. Considered best violet all-season 
edging plant. Packet, 10c. 
34 

