168 
ASTERS - ASPHODELUS 
ASPERULA (as-PER-eu-lah) 
Used mainly in the RG or for carpeting shady places, growing best in moist spots. 
Easily grown; the leaves are in whorls and the fiowers small lily-shaped, in white, blue 
or pink. Woodruff. 
—orientalis. Pretty blue fis effective in carpeting; ft; HP... . ASPR-13. 15¢ 
—tinctoria. Procumbent, white fis, red outside; 1 ft; HP.. NT eee ASPR-I5. 15¢ 
ASPHODELINE (ass-pho-de-LIN-ee)Jacob’s..Rod. 
Differs from Asphodelus only in the flower stems being leafless and the toliage clust- 
ered at the base; culture. 
lutens. King’s Spear. Frag. yellow fis in racemes; part shade; 2-4 ft;HP........ ASPD-4,. 20¢ 
ASPHODELUS (AS-foh-del-us) 
Easy culture in the border or wild garden in rich sandy loam. Flowers lily-like. 
—Species.“from) ‘fhe CP yrenees: 5.2.tstescicccsssccesccsvacssestecerean meses ee ees eet ccsstcene ASPH-3. 30¢ 
ASTERS 
Sow seeds indoors 6 weeks before time to set out in their beds which is after danger 
of frost has passed. Do not crowd, usually a foot apart, and use care that do not suffer 
a set back thru over watering, crowding or drought. It is best to transplant seedlings 
once. As the roots of Asters are shallow, use care in cultivating. Make succession 
plantings for continuous bloom, but when possible use different types which flower at 
different times. All strains are wilt resistant unless so noted. 
AMERICAN or VICK’S BRANCHING: 
Plants 2-245 ft tall, branching, robust, flowers double, semi-ball shaped, late Aug. 
—White, 1W; Crimson, 1C; Lavender, 1L; Seperate COLOTS....... cc ccccsscesseescesseeeceecees AST-1. 15¢ 
Blent of American Branching. A careful hand made blend uu... AST-1X 10¢ 
CREGO: 
Plants robust, branching, 2-215 ft fls large, double,blooms mid-Aug; all purpose type. 
—Enchantress (WR). Lively salmon rose, VV See ARO, cso eee cecacternetaet cs AST-2E 15¢ 
—Light Blue (WR). Fine color for cut floWers......ccccecescceseeseeeee .AST-2B 15¢ 
—Peach Blossom (WR). Delicate pink, excellent for cutting. ..AST-2P 15¢ 
—Crego Blend (WR). Just the right blend for cut flOWETS.ouw ec eecessseeseseesseseees AST-2X 15¢ 
EARLY BEAUTY: 
Planted at the same time, they will flower with the Cregos andd American Branching 
or in early Sept till frost; plants 242-3 ft, large well formed flowers of excelleent keep- 
ing qualtities; witt resistant. 
—Azure Fairy. Just the right shade’ Of VWgWt DUC. ciiicccc.cccsecsascscoscvesccoccereecesceccerssesssoeree AST-3A 15¢ 
—Crimson. A deep rich cut flower shade: excellent for cuttinng.. .AST-3C 15¢ 
—Deep Rose. Makes a rich Shade in roSe@-pink.........cccscsccessessessessseessees AST-3Z 15¢ 
—White. All planting shoulld contain plenty of white.......... AST-3W 15¢ 
—Early Beauty Blend. A blend for the right cutting colors... AST-3X 15¢ 
GIANTS OF CALIFORNIA: 
Non-resistant strain. The flowers are of the Crego type, curled and twisted making a 
fine cut flower sort; stems stiff and non-branching, 3 ft tall, blooming late summer. 
—Azure Blue. Rich cut flower shade. ES 15¢ 
—Crimson. Rich color strain - 15¢ 
—Loveliness...A rich pure pink touche 15¢ 
—Peach Blossom. ..Opens white, flushed lavender-pink... eee 15¢ 
—White.....Pure white of excellent fOr. ccccccccscsssssssscsssssesesssssssesssessssvvestrssss once a ret 
¢ 
GIANT COMET: : : 
Plants upright’ 2ft, non-branching,flowers feathery, double, in bloom middle of Aug. 
A tine type for cut flowers, wilt resistant. 
HRS, | sede ccdesssdsnze hdesadiosccscacvoevonsteesnnagbadceus weuesshcoctat evan tvenncnasauddemteansaesetaeee ttkaineokssestinnes seccceetonistae sets AST-5Z. 15¢ 
—Salmon Queen. Dandy soft color for cutflowers. ..AST-5S. 15¢ 
—Giant Comet Blend.....A blend for cut MOWerSh ei pruccevscestctevscseslesses-cvsessonsencsassatsers AST-5X. 15¢ 
KING or NEEDLE TYPE: 
Blend: Of * ColOrse.cisi...c.cccccecssccescssissaacsedsessecscusspuscrsvaccactusvosstesncsettsnectesronrarsersccastosssaseswdscassvaxs AST-9X. 20¢ 
OSTRICH FEATHER: 
Plants 2-215 ft branching, blooming in mid-August. Flowers feathery, double, and 
a all purpose flower; wllt resistat. 
—Bright-' Fossey iisieseiits eawceeciecece esse nea cetera aaa hos woe neec WeRSea tease Av oaasecaeMeaN Is rseasysteteste coat taesetere AST-6Z. 15¢ 
—Crimson. AST-6C. 15¢ 
mM lyn aison «Pin lec crccccasecseccscresavacscnsccnctancessasceeecteutsnrsuvensataresossenssenrcorentcecnreosecterancenertstessececet ss AST-6P. 15¢ 
—Pure White. ... AST-6W. 15¢ 
—Blend, A hand made blend forvcut Mow SVs iiescccccoscsecessecsccsseanttecrstevssrsaressceescatestass AST-AX. 15¢ 
POM POM TYPE: 
Small flowered type; incurved petals; showy cutflower for small pougias or edging. 
—Rose _ ......... AST-11Z. 20¢ 
—CrjmsSOn. _........cccecccceee AST-11C. 20¢ 
—Blend of Colors... eae ..-AST-11X. 20¢ 
PIRIN CESS 2) iiividarcccesnctunesscsssecaestaia crtateanevereicncaa cocesceserante seve tien tooeviamtnecterd staemriretetsetuveneantsecohesastuares ehcp ssiescasaasonsiezecs 
Attractive new cutting type; 2-215 ft tall branching, early, 3-31% inch fiowers on strong 
stems and with full deep crested centers surrounded by several rows of dainty plume- 
like petals. Wilt resistant. 
—Barbara. New orehid color, Very sattracbivietincs.-caecdse.sssssvrciersssscctersses.s00c0 . 15¢ 
—Bonnie, SOL) SalimOn-LOSO wrccecasceecccoonetyncovterensecessesencseuedtnateey eed - - 15¢ 
—Elizabeth.....Pure white making a beutiful cut flower. ee . 15¢ 
—tLinda. Clear rose beautiful for cut flowers, NEW ..... 7L. 15¢ 
—Margaret. NEW. Very pretty deep rose............ 4 . 18¢ 
—Susan. NEW. True deep blue, in a clear shade. . 15¢ 
—Princess Blend. A blend of above varieties; a b . 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¢ 
—Crimson. -AST-8C. 15¢ 
st eeeeceensenserscseceeesesseees Te eeeeeeeencceesceserecccesensencces 
—Pure White. AST8W. 15¢ 
—Salmion=Toses . iivcecccucconschscerssecenssttajcotevsschivstanct snavanesosneretens divested’: teeccseaynandnnoreneessavadspasevae stesvavscavss AST-8Z. 15¢ 
—Queen of the Marlee? iB Ler siicscccescorcstaveg ceennsarcocetntucscuennrceamnetstercneecte terete omevetestecsnaveredaveee sc: AST-8X. 15¢ 
You can order your seeds any way you wish, either by writing the full name down of 
the flower wanted or just using the symbol at the end of the line; it is easier and 
plainer with just the symbol but be sure to make it very plain and the correct one. 
DIMONDALE MICHIGAN 
PIONEER SEED COMPANY 
IRIS 
By Walter Welch, Indiana 
CHROMOSOMES IN IRIS 
For the ordinary gardener the genetical 
composition of their plants is of little inter- 
est, They are concerned with quality and 
performance, But for the breeder, a know- 
ledge of chromosomes and their behavior 
is of vital importance. Everything concern- 
ing a plant is dependent upon the chromo- 
some composition and that includes hard- 
iness, height, season, color, form, shape and 
ability to survive and reproduce its kind. 
All plants comprising any one species have 
the same number and kind of chromosomes 
and because chromosome numbers vary 
from species to species it is possible to ident- 
ify a plant by its chromosomes. For ex- 
ample, the diploid forms of J. variegata and 
I. pallida have 24 chromosomes, most of our 
Tall Bearded Iris have 48 chromosomes, and 
the Dwarf Bearded species vary, as I. pumila 
32, I. attica 16, I. mellita 24, I. arenaria 22 
and I. chamaeiris 40 chromosomes. 
Fertility and sterility are intimately bound 
up with the number and behavior of the 
chromosomes. Often it is possible to cross 
these differentiated plants but it will result 
in an infertile progeny, in other cases there 
will be partial fertility, occasionally giving 
a few viable seed. Fertility ordinarilly in- 
creases as the chromosomes become adjusted 
in these later hybrids. 
The functional mechanism responsible for 
this behavior is the ability of the chromo- 
some of the parents to pair and seperate re- 
gularly at the reduction division, which they 
will do if identical or nearly so. Chromo- 
somes which are disimiliar will not pair at 
any time but if partially similiar may pair 
at times and fail at others. 
The pairing of chromosomes is a very 
complex performance. After pollination, the 
pollen of one parent meets in fertilization 
with the ovule of the other parent, to form 
an original somatic or body cell. The pollen 
and ovule each contain their quota of chro- 
mosomes from the different parents, which 
constitutes a hybrid. These sets of chromo- 
somes then split into double the amount, 
retire to opposite ends of the cell, a wall is 
formed between them and results in two 
identical cells in place of the original som- 
atic cell. A continuation of this process 
eventually produces a full grown plant by 
what is called cell growth. 
There is no pairing in this process, this 
function is reserved for the production of 
pollen and ovules, known as gametes. At this 
particular point there is no splitting of chro- 
mosomes, but instead whole chromosomes 
from the opposite parents within the cell 
must pair, then retire to opposite ends of the 
cell, from whence they go into seperate 
gametes. In this pairing the chromosomes 
lie closely together in a medium line before 
retiring to opposite ends of the cell. ; 
If the numbers form each parent are equal 
and not differentiated, pairing will be regul- 
ar and fertile gametes will be obtained, but 
for example, if the chromosomes are related 
and differentiated, no pollen or ovules wilk 
materalize. Also ‘if the numbers are differ- 
ent, say 8 from one parent and 12 from the 
other, the 8 of one may pair with 8 of the 
12 from the other parent, leaving 4 chro- 
Continued on page 169 
