For July, 1921 



641 



lines, Trailers and Ramblers. 

 The climbing species of the fragrant flowered Honey- 

 suckles, Louiccra, are grown well at the seashore. They 

 are equally desirable on trellises, and for trailing along 

 fences or over rocks or ledges. Hall's Japan, Louiccra' 

 halliana, and Chinese Twining, Loniccra japonica, are 

 among the best. Both have an almost evergreen foliage, 

 that of the latter being prettily varigated, and both bear 

 sweet-scented flowers, the former several crops each sea- 

 son. We have seen Hall's Japan growing luxuriantly on 

 a rocky blufl: directly above the waters of Long Island 

 Sound. The Akebia, Akcbia qitinata. is much more slen- 

 der than the Loniceras, but quite able to resist the shore 

 gales. Its small, purplish, cinnamon-scented flowers are 

 followed by pur]ilish mottled berries, and its five-fingered 

 foliage adds to its attractiveness. 



The memorial Rose, Ruse zeicliiiriana, and its many 

 hybrids are excellent for seaside planting. The Memo- 

 rial Rose, which bears single white blooms, and whose 

 shining, leathery foliage is almost evergreen, is unsur- 

 passed for trailing over ledges and banks, as is also its 

 variegated-leaved variety. The hybrid Wichurianas, 

 notable among which are Excclsa, double red ; Dorolhy 

 Perkins, both the double pink and double white : Chris- 

 tine Wright, double wild-rose pink : Dr. J'an Fleet, dou- 

 ble flesh-pink : Silver Moon, semi-double white ; Gar- 

 denia, golden yellow, and the multidora Roses, Thousand 

 Beauties, double pink, a practically thornless rose; and 

 .American Pillar, single rosy-pink, a good hedge rose, are 

 very satisfactory for growing over trellises, fences, per- 

 golas and Summer houses. 



Delphiniums: How and Where to Plant 



N 



O hardv herbaceous plant flowering at high Summer- 

 time is held in higher esteem than the Delphinium, 

 none capable of richer effect than it when, rightly 

 regarded, it has been given an opportunity of playing 

 its part. This it may achieve in various ways — in isolated 

 groups, the ordinary herbaceous border, or even in asso- 

 ciation with shrubs. Aft'orded flanking positions to 

 Azalea or Rhododendron on rising ground, set belt- 

 fashion in any position where agreeable foil exists, made 

 to rise in succession to Pa:ony or Pyrethrum informally 

 grouped, or springing from and in its flowering syn- 

 chronising with waving sheaves of Moon Daisy or like 

 plant, what is there. I ask, among the flowering plants 

 of the year more worthy of considered care, more sump- 

 tuous or luminous — if all too rare — than the choicest blues 

 these Delphiniums afford? Xone, surely! Great in the 

 true sense, they impel admiration because of stature, 

 sjjire-like elegance and a contribution to garden picture 

 or landsca])e which is theirs alone. The spacious cres- 

 cent-fonned border on gently rising ground is ideal for 

 them, and whether approached from the higher or lower 

 level at flowering-time, the effect of a well assorted selec- 

 tion just baffles description. As to how to plant tht-m for 

 effect, there is but one way, viz. : 



Groiipint; or Colonizing, and that on as generous a 

 scale as circumstances admit. Most important, however, 

 in this connection is color selection, the Gentian blues 

 here, the sky blues elsewhere, always confining a group to 

 a separate shade or variety. In the case of the Anchu.m. 

 where the varieties Opal and Dropmore are planted in 

 close proximity, that last named dominating has a belittl- 

 ing effect upon the other. Alone each is capable of bril- 

 liant results. So it is with the Delphinium, each color 

 should be alone. Thus arranged each is capable of stand- 

 ing on its own feet, while color clashings and incongrui- 

 ties will be avoided. Then, if one might intrude in a 

 personal .sense, it would be to say that the true blues — 

 rich Gentian or sky — having white eyes or centers appeal 

 to me in a .stronger way and more immediately than the 

 mixed violet or purplish shades having dark l)ee- formed 

 centers. Kxcellent by way of contrast and indescribably 

 beautiful near by, those first named are immeasurably 

 superior in the picture and, because of the double i)arl 

 they play, worthier of fuller consideration. The more 

 graceful their carriage, spire-like their form, with easily 

 disposed flowers, the nearer is perfection, the more gener- 

 ous their decorative aspect. Those having densely .sym- 

 metrical or colunniar spikes cannot hold the proverbial 



candle to these in these respects : the colossal and obese 

 fit only for the ranks of the undesirables. 



For planting, a word or two in concluding might be 

 added on this head. In light and well drained soils the 

 Delphinium transplants well either in early Autumn or 

 in Spring. F"or heavier soils, however, I prefer deferring 

 their planting till Spring. Then with renewed growth 

 new root activities follow and the plant soon takes to its 

 new quarters. Every effort should, however, be made 

 to improve heavy soils by trenching, liming, the addition 

 of grit, leaf-mold, burnt clay — most valuable — anything, 

 indeed, calculated to assist drainage and ensure porosit\'. 

 To this end light litter or long strawy manure is useful. 

 The lighter and sandier soils will be better treated with 

 cow manure because of its cool nature. In general terms 

 the Delphinium enjoys a rich as well as a deep soil, and 

 with the manure worked well down the roots will be 

 attracted to the richer soil in due course. As to the size 

 of the plants, no planter of experience would crave for 

 clumps, and of novelties he is not likely to get them. 

 A safer way, too, even where clumps obtain, is to break 

 them up, not plant them intact. A goodly clump intelli- 

 gently divided would form the nucleus to a decent group, 

 and ;is crown buds in the Delphinium form readily and 

 freely, periodical division is desirable in order to ensure 

 a continuance of the finest spikes, though in certain soils 

 they may for years acquit themselves well without it. A 

 fair planting piece is that having two or three sturdy 

 shoots and well rooted to boot. A more satisfying plant 

 is that divided a year ago and given nursery treatment 

 since. In large measure the specialists supply these 

 latter only, l-'inally, in planting, keep the crowns 2 inches 

 or 3 inches below the surface. It ensures the stability of 

 rhe plain and encourages rooting. 



If the Delphinium is to retain its title as ([ueen of the 

 hardy border flowers — and so f;ir it is unrivalled — we 

 must have strong growing ])lants. 1 lowever good the 

 color may he, a dwarfed inflorescence is of little use for 

 garden effect : the tallest spires being the best for the 

 border. I )el])hiniums can be made to bloom for months 

 by cutting oft' the spikes after flowering. When the center 

 s[)ike is cut away, side shoots send U]i a succession of 

 flowers. It sh(jiild not be forgotten, however, that con- 

 tinuous flowering tends to exhaust the plants, and a top- 

 dressing of rich soil and manure should be applied. The 

 clumps should be replanted and divided every three or 

 four years. This is best done in Spring just as the plants 

 (Continued on page 642) 



