Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1938-07-07
Delphiniun1S.

When early botanists named plants,
they looked for similarity between
a striking form of the plant and that
of some animal species. They gave
the larkspur the name "delphinium,' "
because they ikened the flower to
small dolphin-the spur represent
ing the front part of this water ami
NAL, and the limbs of the sepals and
the petals the head. Dolphins were
in the past and still are very COM
mon all around the Greek coast.
They swim in large schools, and are
often seen leaping high out of the
water when playing.
The fact has been established that
the delphinium was known to a
civilization existing before the reign
of the Egyptian Pharaohs, by the dis
covery of flowers in the tomb of
King Ahmes I.
Beal, the historian, states in speak
ing about King Ahmes' garland
All Egyptian kings seemed to have
had garland of flowers buried with
them, "In his coffin were smaller
wreaths composed of the blue-purple
flowers of the Delphinium Orientale
which, after more than 5000 years,
still possessed traces of color. In the
past so years, other tombs have been
discovered, and in these also have
been found dried delphinium flow
erS."
The delphinium is primarily of
the northern Observation-Disclosures
several distinctly different species
have been found in Africa a few
degrees south of the equator; also
the northern-most point of the Siber-
ian mainland.
The modern hybrid has been devel-
oped in a little less than 100 years
from several species growing wild
in Europe, Siberia and the United
States. The first important step was
taken by Victor Lemoine of France
about 1882 In the United States
Luther Burbank began in 1895; this
was followed by the advancement
contributed by Charles F. Barber, a
Other names could be added, but the
work of all has finally brought about
the present modern hybrid.
Now Frank Reinelt has added the
most recent chapter in its develop
ment. Born in Czecho-Slovakia, he
began gardening at IA; Travelled as an
apprentice from place to place for
three years; then to Brunn to attend
gardening school. There he learned
of the monk Gregor Mendel who
had grown peas in monastery gar
den, and from them worked out the
laws of heredity that have since be-
come the guiding principles of plant
and animal breeders. This story faS-
cinated him-he sought for more in
formation. He heard of Burbank in
California, and finally got there in
1926, but just about that time Bur-
bank died, so he contacted others that
could help him. Reinelt began hy-
bridizing work first on small scale,
and then in a large way after be-
coming associated with Vetterle Bros,
firm growing cut flowers and pot
plants for the wholesale florist trade.
The Vetterle and Reinelt Hybridiz-
ing Gardens were set up to handle
new plants which he created, which
include a number of other types
notably the tuberous-rootedb egonias.
Plant your delphinium seeds now
as soon as they are ripe. They will
terminate faster if planted then.
If crown rot appears on the plants,
scatter ashes around them and
through the branches.
Save pure grass clippings as mulch
for strawberry beds. Clippings from
weedy lawns are not good for this
purpose as they will introduce weeds
10 Al