DELPHINIUMS

Evening Star, Issue 23113, 12 November 1938, Page 23

DELPHINIUMS

REMOVE SIDE SHOOTS With the exception of a very few varieties, delphiniums -bear, branched spikes. That is to say, you have the central column of bloom with four or five short spikes rising from the bottom. These are called shoulders. As the principle of disbudding or bud reduction is carried out with so many flowers, it is only natural that you should wonder what the effect would be if these shoulder spikes were removed. The'advantages are manifold. . You get clearer colour. _ There is no magenta in the blues or muddiness in the mauves. ‘ You have more perfectly, shaped flowers.

There is none of that confusion of marking and ■ clipping of the petals which sometimes ' step in when shoulders are allowed to develop. You are less likely to have trouble with interrupted spikes.- . The flowers last longer, too. They are fewer; consequently there is Hot such a simultaneous drain on the food supply. Having enumerated the advantages, we feel spre you will realise that the delphinium display stands to gain by the removal of these shoulder spikes'. If you decide to remove them do so as soon as they stand clear of the main column, cutting them off at the base with a sharp penknife. If the ground is dry water a few hours before.—The ‘Dominion.’