114 GARDEN GUIDE 



pared. They are best planted in the Spring and advice is frequently 

 given that all old plants should be divided up and reset each year, 

 for they exhaust the soil. Good seed is now available of this type 

 anH they may be grown successfully by this method. 



As soon as the plants have grown four inches tall, especially if 

 few plants are available, and a good display is wished, they should be 

 pinched. This will cause them to branch freely, each shoot bearing 

 a number of buds. From the very start in growth the plants must be 

 staked. The greatest fault with this group is that they all fall down 

 near blooming time, and the whole beauty of the plant is destroyed 

 imless carefully staked. The shoots can easily be tied to stakes if the 

 if the stakes are once in place. If the very largest flowers rather 

 than the greatest quantity of bloom are wanted, feed with liquid 

 manure when buds begin to show, and remove many of the smaller 

 buds on each stem. Chrysanthemum blooms will be much better if a 

 covering is placed over them during the cold Fall rains or on the 

 nights of frosts. 



THE DELPHINIUMS • Larkspurs 



The charming and immensely popular Delphinium, which is better 

 known, perhaps, by its common name, Larkspur, is well adapted for 

 beds and borders. There are both perennial and annual sorts. For 

 variety and beauty of blossoms, few other plants can equal the peren- 

 nial Delphiniums, especially the improved English or hybrid kinds. 

 Growing to a height of from three to six feet, they bear on their erect 

 stems long, graceful spikes of magnificent flowers, ranging in color 

 from pure white through all shades of blue, while the clean, curiously 

 cut foliage shows off to advantage. If the stems are cut ofl" close to 

 the ground when the flowers begin to wither, second and third crops 

 will follow and the season of blooming is thus prolonged until late Fall. 



Delphiniums are easily cultivated. They succeed best in deeply 

 dug, loamy soil, enriched with fine manure, but any well-fertilized soil 

 will give good results Seed sown in the hotbed or indoors in February 

 will produce plants which should begin to bloom in the garden about 

 the middle of June. When seed is sown in the open ground flowers 

 may not come until the second season. As soon as the weather is 

 favorable for transplanting, set the young plants from two to two and 

 one-half feet apart in the bed. Apply a little bonemeal to the soil 

 around the plants during the Summer, and in very dry weather give 

 them a copious supply of water. Dusting the crowns with coal ashes 

 before Winter sets in will protect them from insects. Among the 



