Starved Acres 
Probably the most convincing statement 
on the value of mulches and organic gard- 
ening was in an article read some time ago 
in which the writer described his land and 
his gardening practice. 
His farm was known as ‘Starved Acres’ 
and the name described the soil to perfect- 
ion. It was lacking in organic matter and 
not able to produce the slightest results. 
However, upon the farm was an oak wuvod 
lot of some acres, where immense oak trees 
grew. The writer looked up towards the 
tops of these oaks and wondered wiy they 
could be so tall and big when he was unable 
to grow anything on the soil. He finally 
realized that the answer to his question 
was not in the tops of the trezs but at his 
feet where he saw the same lean soil but in- 
stead of the bare ground in his fields, here 
the ground was covered with a thick muich 
and only because of this differenc the trees 
were growing well. 
Upon following the same practice in his 
fields he gradually changed his soil to a 
prourvitable one. On our own fields we follow 
this same practice and where a crop of 
beans has been growing it is followed by a 
ecop cf wheat from which only the grain is 
taken and the straw left on the land. The 
wheat has in the meantime been seeded ta 
clover and this is left for seed and again 
tne cover straw is left on the land. Atter 
the wheat has been combined the stubble is 
mowed to get the weeds that will riven by 
fall and thus the ground is covere:! with a 
mulch two years out of three and a crop 1s 
grown each year. The condition of this sil 
is 1°’eal and we are sure that disease is also 
at a minimum as well as insect infestation 
We have not fount it to pay us to use fert- 
liizers. 
H. EK. Saier 
Enviorment 
Some very good thots are pointed out in 
an article by Mrs. Myrtle Hebert of Montana 
in one of the Penstemon Society bulietins. 
She says, ‘I think one stumbling block 
with some people is a combination of rich 
soil and moisture. I remember some dry 
years and what glorious Penstemons we had 
then. Even P. eriantherus, which I find 
very tempermental, was something to dream 
about in those years. Even in the wild it 
has not been like that since the wet years 
came. 
We will print more itims on this same 
subject in future issues for the condition 
of the soil and especially as to its degree of 
richness has much to do with the failure of 
many, in getting proper growth, and plants 
to flower properly. 
CUTTING SWEET BASIL. 
Some growers cut the tipsoff first and at 
the time the flower heads start to b!com. 
This is all right and gives a fine quality but 
is an expensive method, especialy in the 
drying. 
Probably it would be best, especiaily for 
the market gardener to cut the whole sten. 
when the flower spike is well formed. Make 
the cutting 3-4 inches above the ground. 
Tie in bunches of about a pound each 
green weight and hang up in a dry, airy 
place to dry. 
Always cut herbs in the late morning, 
for best flavored stock. Remember Basil 
grown on poor soil does not have the fine 
flavor as it has on good soil. 
11 
ASTERS-ASTRANTIA-AUBRIETIA 
ASTERS Continued from page 10. 
EL OSO errs c see eee epics eae ead essa ta sccseaa tas Matis nah ou caveunedeetee sosouatide sneMeoccbiss anbaved cot debapedeoathiecdeSadoenss AST-5Z. 15¢ 
—Salmon Queen. Dandy soft color for cutflowers. a . 15¢ 
——GianisComet Blends. AsDlenGs fore CUGs flOWELS. .c:ccscrcsascesseccaseccsosssteseceseeccessrsncansersene > . 15¢ 
KING or NEEDLE TYPE: 
ES LOC MLO LMM COLOLS se, cern eee test- tects aes insacctshaecscsrscnsesanvectovostentraaceos cnet caustetsaventrestaseaogencttssenineds AST-9X. 20¢ 
OSTRICH FEATHER: 
Plants 2-2!5ft branching, blooming in mid-August. Flowers feathery, double, and 
a all purpose flower; wllt resistat. 
m= ES PACE ME EROS Come rce cy te ccnectascta cour sch assstgscccontweuca eacsvcsuevucesasscCeonust shavatsaessbeNicvel squvetcdds sutdesoadtvestnaeetssere . 15¢ 
—Crimson. . 15¢ 
= Mal ma {SOra) ¢, Pixalo Wecscasave cece acsoscsaschateatoucsacttosossensth insists iestsgnes taste iisdvisaadoa tape she ustziasdernenpseareesss . 15¢ 
mE UY Oden WV, ELE T shire nstns ten eee ert snecest sss tueeceedaaveccethoatepoinicesctsbess =o . 15¢ 
—Blend. A hand made blend for cut flowers... . 15¢ 
POM POM TYPE: 
Small flowered type; incurved petals; showy cutflower for small bouquets or edging. 
OSC eeeccccnscsacsapcsstsssivecnsscvavsnecaedniaacsesigcesstecsseteoscteessessuaoaeeoesn Wi scduatesosethévunsassscibed pacceatausseaapeatmerseen AST-11Z. 20¢ 
WC PITT SONM ee larrenceere nce teapetet otc trroteanc cat tore ra saenec sare aeisuss susonussuselsneasssasuperveres Wieesoress sesnsasansasoszeteceentees AST-11C. 20¢ 
—Blend of Colors.. ree AST-11X. 20¢ 
ELEN CESS seateccestccstaccvacavavuarosdicos sup oinuvsncsetactass omshccescaueersorstuaecestacen” eattaronecst. acuettesznecuscterstemrensontitcemateet napaeereseness 
Attractive new cutting type; 2-215 ft tall branching, early, 3-312 inch fiowers on strong 
stems and with full deep crested centers surrounded by several rows of dainty plume- 
like petals. Wilt resistant. 
——-barbaragm News Orehid. COlormavery “ATTPACTIVE .i..ccccsaccccssstceccccseevsceserceesecseesaceteesen AST-7B. 15¢ 
=——B ONTMIC SOLE SAT OM-TOSE: sc.cicestecesstestscccencesnovecesvsssatsess acenenses ..AST-7N. 15¢ 
—Elizabeth....Pure white making a beutiful cut flower .. AST-7E. 15¢ 
—Linda. Clear rose beautiful for cut flowers, NEW .... .. AST-7L. 15¢ 
—Margaret. NEW. Very pretty deep rose... . AES-7M. 15¢ 
—Susan. NEW. True deep blue, in a Clear SHAE wisi... cccsscsessssessscceesseoes ... AST-7S. 15¢ 
—Princess Blend. A blend of above varieties; a beautiful addition .............. AST-7X. 15¢ 
QUEEN OF THE MARKET: 
A very popular early flowering Aster, branching, 20 inch tall, blooming in early Aug- 
ust, one of the most popular for early cut flowers. Wilt resistant. 
—Balet Queen. Fasinating salmon-rose, extremely w it resistant ................. AST-8Q. 15¢ 
mC FUINSON 5h acecscacsssssaaserenseosecsncces Diane vosscivvegescinvssacccacesdendecetsass dnonsxtasvacdesesevcusnesiens eeounnae’ ..AST-8C. 15¢ 
—Pure White. . AST8W. 15¢ 
—SalMon-rose. oo.eeeseeccscccsesecesseeeeee ... AST-8Z. 15¢ 
CIC OH. OLN NE™ Mar leSkeB LO ds siecccsecdooccsccctesseassocoscocsevaneasvsccagegncsovdsespesssausssdeoncdcanabsepeehesnsszes AST-8X. 15¢ 
SUPER GIANTS OF CALIFORNIA: 
This is the largest and most fully double Aster class yet developed; flowers 6-8 inches 
across, graceful, interlacing petals. Plants 214 ft tall; 6-8 non-lateral stems per plant. 
=F se MONIC, A CLEAD: GEED | CLIMSON ...:cccstecesseccessodesdesveyocdassstueendscstoousvecsDiceness sdvensubecis venues AST-10C. 20¢ 
—Los Angeles. A beautiful shell pink making it a fine cut flower ........000..... AST-10L. 20¢ 
FOS AINA epic cerceaeces aces sien da dane aka GanGendduetaduateneiescusasensiveveussiessZietvesdeusedeels vusviouss ss oveistectsobanet even AST-11R. 25¢ 
A new Aster, excellent for pot culture, well proportioned, 10-12” high with strong 
stems having a bunch of several half double flowers in bright carmine-red with a yel- 
low center; potting can be done without fading, whole plant starting to flower same 
time. 
—Heeart of France. Late branching, flaMING E.n...........cccccccessscsnrscsscevscassoonsnsee AST-HF. 20¢ 
—Nero. Semi double branching, red . 15¢ 
SINGIOW FLOW SLING V LV LD TCO erestrsteycnecacececcsstecessescevaceces ccovaeastecacanpovtsicncecencsescsysscocouttereatss - 20¢ 
PERENNIAL SPECIES of ASTERS: es 
alpinus albus. RG, white form, daisy-like fils on 6” plants, HP........0... AST-14A. 20¢ 
—Large Flowered. Large fis on 9” plants in various colors; HP.............0.... AST-14L. 20¢ 
—superbus. Larger than the type and showy; HP.. 
caucasicus. 112” heads, purple ray, 2ft; HP... 
commutus crassulus. Small flowered white, Mont; 
.AST-148. 20¢ 
on sac .AST-20. 20¢ 
1Z., ; Cooma PeEL OSS AST-23. 20¢ 
conspicuus. | eroLuscmmis puresrose fis, “18Miimehs, TPs. ck. scans set--ctsteccecveredecereree AST-25. 20¢ 
Farreri. Narrow violet ray petals, vermilion-orange disk; nice 1ft; HP........ AST-40. 25¢ 
—himalaicus. Heads 11%” across; lilac-blue ray fis; 142 ft; HP. eee AST-57. 30¢ 
pe SilckeimensissunGians BSP CCIES Hes tomsciscascccstecccsrarcsestsctascersssttesecestbavessed - . 30¢ 
subcaeruleus. Very large lilac-blue fis; very good, 9”; . 25¢ 
—Star of the Wartburg. Bright lavender-blue, prominent yellow center AST-lLIGW. 25¢ 
Perennials Aster 7 blends All) Mardy Perennials) o. rccc.ccocssudce-h-acoss7oeeenenessencersnersesonees AST-PX. 20¢ 
ASTILBE (a-STIL-be) 
The florist Spirea. Easily forced in the greenhouse. Easily grown from spring sown 
seed; use soil containing sand, peat and leaf mold. Thrives in moist soil and part shade. 
rivularis. Yellowish white fis i large panicles; 5S £0; TAP c...in.. cc csecesssssceesseeses ASTI-10. 20¢ 
chinensis pumilaae wart forms, white sS3) Qrhbse TU Pis..:vctscaescor-csseevahs<seegcotssnssoccbeeesaece ASTI-4. 20¢ 
ASTRAGALUS (as-TRAG-ah-lus) 
Milk Vetch. Deeply cut leaves and purple, yellow or white flowers in spikes or rac- 
emes thrives in light sandy soil and used in the rock garden or border; easily grown 
from seed planted in the spring. 
Purshii. Mat-forming, white woolly lvs; fils white or blue; sun,RG, HP........ ASTR-30. 20¢ 
ASTRANTIA  (as-TRAN-shi-ah) 
The flowers are in odd and attractive umbels and make interesting plants in the bord- 
er, especially in moist pllaces. Seed from all varieties does not come 100% true. 
carniolica. White or bluish fis; pretty; June-July, 1ft, HP wee ASTN-2. 25¢ 
AUBRIETA (au-BREE-shi-ah) 
Choice mat forming perennials prized for theic abundant flowers in the spring. They 
are favorites in the rock garden and closely allied to and resemble Arabis. Easily grown 
from seed, started any time, for flowering the following season. They are especially 
good between rocks and like a little shade. 
== OAMID DCI mer CLACUIIN OLE Ces ra ceesctesccecs ae cekecuuts oouzc sess devshsoaeintcecuee ibe onevspsusestoeseeneareseubaees: AUBR-2C. 20¢ 
eOICH TIN ee CED DULDIC LOSC es Aarapessiscscncteee dees teak ose tote thhcieseae eee th oho ote AUBR-2L. 20¢ 
deltoidea. The species of which all the popular garden varieties belong.....AUBR-2. 15¢ 
EV TOlou V. CL Yan DEATULEUI sD LUC j9 EL Ed ian sasnecsevscetscseecvecsete .-AUBR-2E. 25¢ 
—graeca. Large and more bushy than type; HP.......... . AUBR-2G. 25¢ 
Hybridaw latrcsennowered, types irom (ICroSSeSs EVP ioc ncrsssersccocsecevtecsesssceseoneererens AUBR-4, 25¢ 
==GrlOPIOUS BHEGAl FLYDLIGS., ©..5cccccccctossvessecsscosstsstetsocteseeocrsreesss .. AUBR-3G. 20¢ 
em EE OTIC OTS ORD oy ssaeeassviacecdssevezeous soassnscesesoscerssvsscessccuccoscevbacvavedancascesesovacescssicvancussedeendscussdecuecdessebees AUBR-2H. 20¢ 
= DGC Ht itil we CCD Er DUT DICHTOSCs a ELE. 5 tirssscsescsedssactnccssavsevausetesvbeeetncabassutieecoucancscecuaenice AUBR-2L. 25¢ 
—Mrs.....Rodewald. From the largest red iS; 373 HP w.ccccssscsscsssssssccsscssssssvess AUBR-2R. 20¢ 
——Wihitewall "GomemETetly sViOlet OW GELS; ELE trees sscesestesnrserrsvitesestescsevaccoatseeteetetes AUBR-2W. 20¢ 
—Borsch’s Brilliant. Dark green fol; brilliant crimson fis; 6”, HP ......0.00..... AUBR-2B. 25¢ 
= fLlorplena foe -GOWUDLe =e HS) | ELE eaccstdeccesancencrcerccsnvanvenesuserstesctvaracvscveapsataspsate’ . AUBR-2F. 30¢ 
FAUbrietas BIEN mel AN Va VALICLICS Hy LUE? ot... csccsncuresteyssensasdesuseasssiscasis teataadeacestpuasnesoneneser tees AUBR-X. 20¢ 
DIMONDALE MICHIGAN 
PIONEER SEED COMPANY 
