One month before sowing the seed, saturate the soil with 5 per cent formalin 
(5 parts of formalin in 95 parts of water), cover with an inverted empty flat for 
a day, then expose to the air until dry enough to be worked without caking. 
/Aerate once or twice a day until all odor of formalin is dissipated. This takes 
at least a month. Even the smallest amount of formalin in soil is fatal to del¬ 
phinium seeds. When ready to sow, level the soil in the flat, make parallel 
grooves ^-inch deep and 3 inches apart, shake the seeds with a pinch of 
Semesan or Cuprocide, sow in the grooves, cover lightly, then partially plunge 
the flat in water to allow the moisture to come to the surface of the soil; re¬ 
move the flat, let the excess water drain off, put the flat in a cool place, prefer¬ 
ably the cellar and keep it covered with an inverted empty flat until the seed¬ 
lings come up in about 10-15 days. Should the surface soil show signs of 
drying, repeat the watering process. After the seedlings are up remove the 
inverted flat, knock out its bottom, stretch one thickness of burlap over it, 
tack down securely and use it to shade the seedlings. Move the flat of seed¬ 
lings outdoors but away from the direct rays of the sun. Cold frame in a shady 
location is best for this. Tlace the flat of seedlings in the cold frame, invert 
over it the burlap bottom flat, and if necessary, provide additional protection 
by lath frames. Harden the seedlings gradually. Should signs of damping-off 
appear, water with 0.25 percent Semesan solution. 
If you don’t care to fool with soil sterilization, the following method should 
give you good results: Prepare the soil as before, only fill the flat half full. 
Plunge it in water until saturated, drain off excess water and place 2 inches of 
a 50-50 mixture of clean sand and peat moss on the surface of the soil in the 
flat. Sow as before. Place a layer of cheesecloth on the surface of this mix¬ 
ture and by means of a fine sprinkler water until the sand and peat moss are 
wet clear through. Do not plunge the flat in water after the seeds are sown 
because the sand and peat moss mixture may become contaminated by the 
damping-off fungi forced up from the soil below by the ascending water. 
WHAT DO THEY SAY ABOUT THE LYONDELS? 
HaVING BEEN BADLY STUNG time and again, the more intelligent gar¬ 
deners disregard extravagant claims. They must see for themselves, and 
sometimes they may even believe what disinterested parties have to say. It is 
for this reason that every year I have published excerpts from letters written 
to me by various customers. These serve not only as testimonials, but also 
as sign posts to gardens where better things are grown and where flower 
lovers may aggregate to exchange notes. 
This year I am opening with the statements of three eminent dynamic 
delphinium breeders. Frank Reinelt is the new breeder whose Pacific Strain 
of delphinium is creating so much merited sensation. Prof. Simkhovitch 
grows delphiniums by the hundred thousand purely for his enjoyment. He not 
only collects all worth-while delphiniums from every corner of the world, but 
also breeds his own strain, and has made more advance than anyone else to¬ 
wards the production of fragrant delphiniums. Col. Steichen i3 one of those 
rare individuals who can do everything to perfection. His one-man exhibit of 
delphiniums in New York City took even the most hardened horticulturists by 
storm and set up a standard of perfection for all other breeders to strive for. 
These three gentlemen should know their delphiniums, don’t you think? 
“I did not get acquainted with Mr. Leonian’s delphiniums until six years 
ago. The size of the flowers and the purity of their color made me gasp when the 
lot from his seed came into bloom, and except for Mr. Barber’s whites, I considered 
his achievement the foremost contribution to the American strain of delphinium.” 
—Frank Reinelt in the 1938 Yearbook of American Delphinium Society. 
Robinston, Maine, July 2, 1938 
“In orchid, violet and purple delphiniums you have done wonders. Some of them 
now in bloom are probably the handsomest plants I have in my garden.” —Vladimir G. 
Simkhovitch. 
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