04 





THE 



GARDEN 



MAGAZINE 



March, 



1918 





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j'liilllllillF 



Superb English Delphiniums 



WE are tempted to say that the Improved English 

 Delphiniums are the most beautiful hardy plants in 

 cultivation, but we are also tempted to say this of a 

 score of other things, and, of course, it is impossible to 

 sey which is the most beautiful of hardy plants, for they 

 have such an immense variety of beauty that the wonder 

 grows that people continue to plant, by the million, bed- 

 ding plants which have little or no beauty, are an annual 

 expense, and cost quite as much as hardy plants whose 

 first cost is their only cost, and which increase in size, 

 in beauty, and often in quantity, year after year. These 

 Delphiniums may not be the most beautiful hardy plants, 

 but they are among the most beautiful, and nothing can 

 be more distinct and satisfactory. They are stately and 

 picturesque, some varieties growing 8 feet high in rich 

 soil; they have immense spikes of most beautiful flowers 

 of every imaginable shade of blue, and their season is 

 a long one; in fact, they will bloom from spring till fall if 

 properly treated. 



Culture of Delphiniums. — The culture of Del- 

 phiniums is exceedingly simple, and the results out of 

 all proportion to the slight amount of care necessary. 

 They thrive in almost any position, The soil may be a 

 rich, friable loam, which suits them finely; but any soil, 

 even hot and sandy, if well watered and manured will give 

 excellent results. Dig deeply — trenching is better — add 

 plenty of well-rotted manure, and plant about 2\ feet 

 apart. Placed in lines, as a background to a border, or 

 in groups of, say, three plants at intervals, the effect of the 

 Delphinium is exceedingly fine. They look well in beds, 

 also, arranged at the same distance apart each way. 

 They are grand grown in masses of large groups of sep- 

 ' arate colors, and may be associated with shrubs with 

 great advantage, succeeding well in shrubberies because 

 of their robustness. They are most effective planted with 

 white flowers especially with Miss Lingard Phlox or 

 Candid um or Annunciation Lilies. A succession of 

 flowers may be expected from spring to late autumn, es- 

 pecially if the spikes which have done flowering early be 

 cut off ; fresh growth will then be produced which will give 

 blossom. Copious watering in summer will be attended 

 by increased size of spike and flower; in fact, in seasons of 

 prolonged drought, water is absolutely a necessity on 

 many soils if the varieties are to exhibit themselves in 

 their true size and beauty of flower and spike. Top-dress- 

 ing is greatly recommended on certain soils, instead of the 

 bare surface of the ground being left exposed to the sun. 

 Some of the neater dwarf alpine and other hardy plants 

 may be utilized to plant between and around Delphin- 

 iums. Coal ashes strewn over the crowns will protect 

 the plants from slugs through winter and spring. As we 

 have intimated, any garden soil suits the Delphiniums; 

 it is, however, necessary to secure sorts such as are offered 

 below in order to obtain an effect superior to that afforded 

 by the old smaller-flowered varieties. No amount of 

 liberal treatment will cause the smaller-flowered kinds of 

 a few years back to develop into the gorgeous hybrids of 

 to-day. 



1 ELLIOTT NURSERY CO., 



Specimen Plant of Improved English Delphiniums 



SPECIAL OFFER OF IMPROVED ENGLISH DELPHINIUMS 



Delphiniums have been a great specialty with us for twenty-five 

 years and our stock is by far the finest in America. 

 Fine Mixed English, grown from seed of famous per doz - 1Q 



named sorts $2.00 $14.00 



Selected Varieties, selected from thousands of 



seedlings grown from choicest named sorts 3.00 20.00 



Extra-selected Varieties. Each, 50c 5.00 



OTHER DELPHINIUMS 

 Belladonna. The freest and most continuous blooming of all, never 



being out of flower from the end of June until cut down by hard frost. 



The clear turquoise-blue of its flowers is not equaled for delicacy and 



beauty by any other flower. 20 cts. each, $2 per doz., $12 per 100. 

 Chinense. A very pretty variety, with fine, feathery foliage and 



intense gentian-blue flowers in open panicles. 15 cts. each, $1.50 



per doz., $10 per 100. 

 Chinense Album. A pure white form of the above. 15 cts. each, 



$1.50 per doz., $10 per 100. 

 Formosum. The old favorite dark blue with white centre; 3 to 4 feet 



high. Very vigorous, free-flowering, and one of the best. 15 cts. 



each, $1.50 per doz., $10 per 100. 

 Formosum Ccelestinum. Charming light blue variety of above; 



most exquisite shade of blue. 20 cts. each, $1.75 per doz., $10 per 100. 



Ol1 V C*nlTllft011f> for 1918 is now ready and will be sent free on request. It 

 *-'*■*' V^UlUtt/gMc gi ves prices and descriptions of the most comprehensive 

 list of Hardy Plants, Peonies, Phloxes, Trees, Shrubs, Roses and Hardy Vines offered 

 in this country. 



326 4th Ave., Pittsburgh, Pa. \ 



The Readers' Service will give you suggestions for the care and purchase of cats and dags and other pell 



