This Matter of Failure of Seeds 
le Germinale 
‘*This failure to germinate is heyond me. Yn the seed pans 
I usually sow two lots of seeds. It is reasonable to think that 
the conditions are almost the same, yet I often find that one 
lot germinates excellently, white the other is very poor.’’ Thus 
writes to me Mr. C. Reg. Wootton, a prominent English breeder 
who has made delphiniums his hobby for decades. This has 
been my own experience, too, and that of many others like me. 
But some of my customers think that when the seeds fail to 
germinate, I have sold them old or worthless seed. Often in 
the same mail I receive a letter from one customer who reports 
no germination, while another says that germination was 100 
per cent. (The same seed, coming from the same container, 
mind you). One man writes that Pacific Hybrids gave 100 
per cent germination, the LYONDELS none; another writes that 
the LYONDELS germinated 100 per cent, while the Pacific Hy- 
brids failed to come up. And all the while my own seeds, and the 
seeds of the Pacific Hybrids sown in my own eold frame have 
come up thicker than the proverbial fleas on the hound dog’s 
back. Usually when a eustomer reports no germination, I send 
him another packet of the same seed. This time he comes back 
enthusiastically and tells about 100 per cent germination. The 
seed was the same, but the conditions had changed. So, my 
friends, please do not blame my seeds, just as I do not blame 
you for your failures. If you are nice about it, I will make 
replacements if I can; if you are nasty, the heck with you; 
vou will get no replacements and no literature frem the LYONDEL 
GARDENS. This seed replacement is not an obligation on my 
part, merely a friendly gesture. In view of the fact that I al- 
ways run short of seeds and have to return many orders, it 
means a financial loss to me. I value the good will of the right 
sort of customer more than his money. ‘The wrong sort of vust- 
omer is invited to go jump in the lake. I firmly believe that a 
person who loves flowers is fundamentally honest and will net 
take advantage of this friendly gesture of mine. Should there 
be too much abuse, however, I shall refuse to make any re- 
placements whatever. 
What De Others Say? 
The unsolicited letters, from which the following excerpts 
are taken, were received last year: 
I grow the best varieties of Jelphinium which can with- 
stand our rigorous climate. My favorite haunt during July 
and August is that part of the garden where your delphiniums 
are growing. All my visitors too go in raptures. Mayne Reid, 
Alberta, Canada.—Delphiniums from your seed have grown 7-8 
feet tall; gorgeous fiowers too. They were the talk of our 
flower show. Mrs. Ronald MacDonald, Darien, Conn.— TI have 
bought delphinium seeds from you for 13 successive vears, and 
here I am back again. This should be sufficient testimonial. 
Thomas A. Inch, West Ilartford, Conn.--- At our annual delph- 
inium show I secured 10 firsts, 7 seconds, 2 thirds, 4 honorable 
mention, and the best spike in the show. This is the highest 
individual award ever made. The majority of these plants came 
from your seeds. £. P. Essley, Chicago, Ill.—Mr. Essley walked 
off with most of the blue ribbons, but there was one class, deep 
self colors, in which I took first over Mr. Essley. This plant 
came from your seed. Mrs. Geo. J. Vasumpaur, Western Springs, 
Til—yYour delpliniums are still tops with me. Northern Dahlia 
Gardens, Northbrook, Ill.—TI have grown delphiniums for manv 
years, but never any like yours grown in the garden of my 
neighbor. FF, M. Wheeler, Evanston, Ill.—Your last years seeds 
germinated 100 per cent and the flowers were magnificent. Jesse 
L. Strauss, Glencoe, Ill—In our local flower show I won two 
blue ribbons with your delphiniums. John Hansen, Davenport, 
Towa—yYour delphinium seeds sowr iast summer produced 
beautiful spikes, all with double flowers. Mrs. A. G. Alden, 
Minneapolis, Minn-— I am proud of the plants I raised from 
vour last vear’s seed. Two stalks measured 79 inches, with 42 
inches in flower. Your whites were lovely, large, full flowers, 
almost as large as hollyhoecks. H. Guenter, Butler, N. J—-The 
