4 
House & Garden 
Superb English Delphiniums 
other things’ and, of course, it is impossible to say 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 millions, bedding 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 dis¬ 
tinct 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 
fromc spring till fall if properly treated. 
CULTURE OF DELPHINIUMS.—The culture of Del¬ 
phiniums is exceedingly simple, and the results out of all pro¬ 
portion 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 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 separate 
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 Luigard Phlox or Candidum or Annunciation Lilies. 
A succession of flowers may be expected from spring to late 
autumn, especially 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 at¬ 
tended by increased size of spike and flower; in fact, in sea¬ 
sons 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-dressing is 
greatly recommended on certain soils, instead of the bare sur¬ 
face 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 Delphiniums. 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 
Specimen Plant of Improved English Delphiniums 
sorts such as are offered below in order to obtain an effect 
superior to that afforded by the old smaller-flowered vari¬ 
eties. No amount of liberal treatment will cause the smaller- 
flowered kinds of a few years back to develop into the gor¬ 
geous hybrids of today. 
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. 
Per Doz. ioo 
Fine Mixed English, grown from seed of famous 
named sorts . $2.00 $14.00 
Selected Varieties, selected from thousands of seed¬ 
lings grown from choicest named sorts. 3.00 20.00 
Extra-selected Varieties. Each, 50c. 5.00 
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 center; 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 coelestinum. Charming light blue variety of above; 
most exquisite shade of blue. 20 cts. each, $1.75 per doz., 
$10 per 100. 
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. 
Our Catalogue for 1918 is now ready and will be sent free on request, 
prices and descriptions of the most comprehensive list of Hardy Plants 
Phloxes, Trees, Shrubs, Roses and Hardy Vines in this country. 
COMPANY 
PITTSBURGH, PA 
ELLIOTT 
339 4th AVENUE 
NURSERY 
