DELPHINIUM OR PERENNIAL LARKSPUR

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 660, 11 May 1929, Page 30

DELPHINIUM OR PERENNIAL LARKSPUR

There is really no need for us to enlarge upon the merits of this charming perennial, with its majestic spikes of bloom, embracing every conceivable shade of blue. As a garden decoration it is absolutely unsurpassed, either in the background of a border or adopted as a mass bedder. Almost any soil will suffice for its culture, provided it bas been deeply dug and well manured. A sunny, open position suits them best, and a week or two after introducing the manure to the soil, a liberal application of lime should be incorporated with bed. Sweet, well-drained ground, which has been thoroughly worked, will produce the most commendable results, and this noble plant is worthy of all the preparation, care and attention one can bestow upon it. The reward comes at flowering time. The various garden stores should now be offering hardened-off seedlings. Don’t accept any others, and demand the best strain offering. Await a suitable transplanting day—preferably cool and cloudy—to make your purchase. Prepare your bed to receive them by levelling and smoothing the surface, first with the teeth and then with the back of the rake. Remove all stones and debris. Take your seedlings and set them at least IS inches apart, being careful to se.e that the roots are well spread out. and do not hang in the dibble bole. Press the soil around each seedling, being careful to see that the crown is not buried. Water thoroughly with a fine rosed can or nozzle. A scattering of lime as a precautionary measure against the attacks of slugs completes the transplanting operation. Water copiously and keep the soil loose and free from weed growth while the young plants are developing. When the plants show bud, a weekly application of liquid manure will materially improve both the size of the spikes and the colour of the blooms. Cut the flower stems away from the base as soon as their glory commences to wane. The plants should never be allowed to seed, which not only shortens their blooming period, but seriously affects the quality of the blooms yet to be. Perhaps our readers may be desirous of trying their hand at raising the seed. If so, see to it that you obtain your supplies from a reliable source, and that the seed is absolutely fresh and of good quality. No other is worth bothering with. Sow in a warm, sunny position, in finely-sifted soil, made up of sand, leaf-mould, and wood ash. Drop the seeds in small drills running an inch or two apart, and plant sparingly, covering lightly with sifted soil. When the seedlings are sufficiently strong enough, prick out into boxes, placing them at least a couple of inches apart. Grow them on until they are thoroughly established, and then await a favourable day for the final transplanting into the permanent beds. Introduce these glorious plants into your garden this spring, and yon will possess a glorious and permanent feature for many years to come. Ground that is sour will not produce a successful crop of anything.

Never use wooden handles without first oiling them. Oil preserves the wood and prevents it from splitting, as well as the steel from rusting.