109 
Supply Delphiniums with strong rations very cau¬ 
tiously. Fresh manures are dangerous. Well decom¬ 
posed animal manures are often a great help and in 
some soils almost a necessity, only see to it that the 
roots must reach out for it. For gentle and safe stimu¬ 
lation during blooming time bone meal is probably the 
best thing. Apply it very early in spring and late sum¬ 
mer, working in around the plants. Large plants will 
stand a trowel-full each. Delphiniums give two pro¬ 
nounced blooming periods in the season and a third may 
be had if managed. Keep plants from seeding and after 
the time of blooming cut the old wood to near the 
ground. 
Delphiniums have few enemies. The blight is not 
prevalent to any great extent. Should it appear as a 
blackening fungus remove the plant and burn it at 
once. Where slugs trouble they usually attack the 
young growths in early spring. Rough coal ashes or 
very coarse sand laid over the plants in winter is the 
protection against them, 
Mildew is an indication that somewhere in the plant’s 
ancestry was a subject susceptible to it. Where it ap¬ 
pears on a weak-constitutional plant the destruction o'f 
that plant is called for. Some plants, otherwise sturdy, 
will show a little certain seasons, but in such cases it 
seems to be no more harmful than dandruff on the 
human scalp. It probably can be entirely eliminated if 
breeders will resist the temptation to use plants that 
harbor it. 
The illustration of florets only, shows some of the 
recent advances in size and form. The center one is 
typical of a number of the older named varieties. Upper 
left is the variety “The Alake,” upper right a new single 
