SPECIAL AND IMPORT PRICES FOR FALL OF 1910 
27 
Formation of Lawns from Seed 
The ground should be thoroughly drained and well prepared. The soil ought not to bo too rich, as a rapid growth is not wanted in the 
grasses of a lawn, but the surface should be as much alike in quality as possible. After sowing, the ground should be rolled, in order to 
press the seed firmly into the soil. The proper time to 
sow grass seed depends, of course, upon the latitudes. In 
the central and eastern states, from September 15 to Octo¬ 
ber 15 is the best time. Seed may also be sown in the 
spring, provided it is done early enough to secure a good, 
strong growth before the hot, dry weather of summer sets 
in. The sowing should be done when the ground is moist, 
or before an expected rain, and a subsequent rolling is 
always advisable. 
Rolling. —As soon as the frost is out of the ground in 
the spring the land should be gone over with a heavy 
roller. Winter frosts loosen the soil, and rolling is neces¬ 
sary to compress it again. If grass seed is to be sown, 
this should be done first and the rolling immediately after¬ 
ward. Frequent rollings are recommended. 
Mowing. —All turf-forming grasses are improved, both 
in vigor of root-growth and fineness of texture, by fre¬ 
quent mowings. It is impossible to say just how often the 
grass should De mown, as that depends upon the rate at 
which it grows. Too close cutting should be guarded 
against, however, especially during the hot summer 
months, when the roots require some top-growth to pro¬ 
tect them from the burning sun. A good top-growth is 
also necessary to protect the roots from the severe winter 
frosts. Mowing should, therefore, be discontinued in time 
to let the grass grow pretty long before winter sets in. 
To Grass a Bank or Terrace. —For each square rod 
take a pound of lawn grass seed and mix it thoroughly with six cubic feet of good, dry garden loam. Place in a tub and add liquid manure, 
diluted with about two-thirds of water, so as to bring the whole to the consistency of mortar. The slope must be made perfectly smooth, and 
then well watered, after which the paste should be applied and made as even and as thin as possible. 
PRICES OF GRASS SEED 
We can supply the very best quality of Mixed Lawn Grass Seed for S3 per bushel. This is exactly the same quality of seed that is 
usually sold for 85 per bushel as Central Park Mixture, or under some other fancy name. Grass seed weighs only 14 pounds per bushel and 
can be shipped inexpensively by express. We do not supply less than one-half bushel. Special prices quoted for large quantities. Grass 
si ed is sold by weight, 14 pounds for a bushel; but 14 pounds of clean grass seed will not fill a bushel. Grass seed can be sown advantage¬ 
ously in the fall, preferably in September. Prices: 4 bushel, $1.65; 1 bushel, S3; 10 bushels, 82.75 per bushel; 25 bushels or over, S2.50 
per bushel. Small quantities shipped from here; large quantities from Cincinnati. 
Tall English Delphiniums 
I am tempted to say that the Improved English Delphiniums are the most beautiful hardy plants in cultivation, but I am also tempted 
to say this of a score of 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 bedding plants by the million 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 
beautv, 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 eight 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 Delphiniums is exceedingly simple, and the results out of all proportion to the slight 
amount of care necessary. They thrive in almost any position, and may be planted at any time of the year, provided that in summer the 
plants are not too forward, and that they be well-watered if the weather be dry. 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 separate colors, and may be associated with shrubs with great advantage, succeeding by 
their robustness well in shrubberies. A succession of flowers may be expected from spring to early autumn, especially if the spikes which 
have done flowering early be cut down to the ground; 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-dressing 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 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 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 today. 
“The Delphiniums were the first thing that attracted my attention, for they were just at their best and there was just about one acre of 
them. They made such a sight as I shall not soon forget, so vast was the quantity in bloom, so grand the spikes, and so rich and varied the 
different shades of blue. Although I have been a grower of these lovely hardy border plants for some twenty years, I was not prepared to 
see so much improvement in color, and was much struck with the intensity of the shade in many varieties as compared with the old Bella¬ 
donna. The varieties which have a shade of bronze in the center are also very fine, the contrast between the bronze center and the deep blue 
exterior being very striking. But the shades of color in many of the newer sorts almost baffle description, and I shall not attempt it. It is in 
the doubles and semi-doubles that the greatest advancement has been made, and many of them are truly lovely. They are much larger and 
more compact than the old doubles of the Ranunculoides type, and consequently are much more valuable for ordinary garden adornment. The 
light blue flowers with the large white eyes are very striking.The Delphiniums do not receive any special treatment here, being 
simply planted on a strong loamy soil in an open position. Some few were tied to stakes, but the majority do not require it, be:ng so dwarf 
in comparison with the old sorts. This dwarfness of habit is a great gain, and the greater portion of the plants were not more than 4 to 5 
feet high, yet carrying immense spikes of large bloom.” — The Gardening World. 
