
IDELPHINIUM HYBRIDS 

Transplanting ... When the second leaves 
are developed and before the plants are too 
crowded, prick in flats 3 inches apart in a 
mixture of two-thirds sandy loam and one- 
third leaf mold. Keep shaded for two or three 
weeks; then gradually give more light and, 
when larger, harden off in full sunlight before 
planting out in permanent position about two 
or three feet apart. Open, sunny location is 
necessary for best development. In shade they 
will grow too spindly, with only small flower 
spikes. If too close to walls, they will mildew 
more than in the open. The ground should be 
well prepared for planting. A liberal applica- 
tion of well-rotted cow or sheep manure, with 
a sprinkling of bone meal mixed with the soil, 
which should be dug a foot deep, will produce 
fine growth. Heavy, wet soils will require a 
slight addition of lime. Good drainage and 
uniform supply of moisture during the growth 
is essential. 
Feeding ... When the first crop of blooms 
has faded, cut the flower spikes off just above 
the foliage and keep slightly dry for two or 
three weeks, to give the plants time to rest be- 
fore the new shoots appear above the ground. 
When this takes place, cut the rest of the old 
stock off, sprinkle a teaspoonful of ammonium 
phosphate around each plant, rake it into the 
soil slightly and water thoroughly. From the 
new shoots appearing from the ground select 
two or three of the strongest and break the 
rest out. The remaining ones will develop into 
fine spikes again. Do not force a new growth 
18 
late in autumn; rather, keep the plants on the 
dry side, because if forced into bringing a 
third crop late in the season the plants will 
soon exhaust themselves and gradually die. 
Diseases .. . MILpEw will attack plants 
grown close to a wall, or planted thickly to- 
gether, especially later in the fall. Sulfur, 
dusted on the foliage, will act as a preventa- 
tive before the disease is established. GREEN 
FLOWER—So far this virus disease has been 
reported only west of the Rocky Mountains 
and is most prevalent close to ocean areas. It 
is transmitted by a species of leaf hopper from 
infected weeds to the Delphinium plants. All 
plants showing signs of the disease should be 
immediately discarded. CROWN ROT may be 
caused by several fungi prevalent in the east- 
ern and southern sections of the United States 
where high temperatures and humidity pre- 
vail during the growing season. For best in- 
formation send parts of infected plants to 
your state university for identification. Fur- 
ther information on this subject can be found 
in the Yearbooks of The American Delphi- 
nium Society. 
Length of Life... Length of life of Del- 
phinium plants is governed by several factors. 
In climates with a long resting period in win- 
ter, the plants will usually live much longer 
than in districts such as central and southern 
California where this period is confined to but 
one month of the year. Some may die after 
the first flowering, while others live for years. 
