58 MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN 
ashes. Large clumps should be divided every three or four 
years. 
Several methods are employed in propagation—division, 
layers, cuttings, and seed. Division is performed in March 
when the stems are dormant. The plants are lifted, divided 
into several parts, and placed in the cold-frames until ready 
for planting outdoors. 
Cuttings may be taken with a heel early in the spring and 
rooted either in a hot-bed or propagating bench in a green- 
house. Upon rooting the new plants should be potted and 
later transplanted to the nursery soil or cold-frame in readi- 
ness for their final Sloe in the fall or following spring. 
Late summer and fall propagation may also be resorted to, 
though it is not as successful as the spring method. Where 
greenhouse facilities are available delphiniums may be lifted 
after freezing, potted, and forced slowly, producing new 
growth from which cuttings are taken during January or 
February. 
Another successful method is by means of layering which 
is done in May or June. A cut is made at the extreme base 
of the stem and covered with fibrous loam. In due time 
roots will be forced out near the cut and a new plant se- 
cured, which can be severed from the parent plant early in 
the spring. 
Seed is sown in the cold-frame late in the summer or in 
greenhouses early in the spring. In the first case the plants 
will flower the following summer, in the second case they 
may flower the same autumn. Care should be exercised in 
carrying the seedlings over winter in cold-frames to kee 
them moderately dry and well aerated. Light should be ad- 
mitted very early in the spring. In selecting varieties for 
seed clear distinct colors, robust habit, and symmetrical 
spikes should be chosen. 
The following are the more important species of Del- 
phinium : 
TIME 
NAME COLOR OF BLOOM HEIGHT HABIT HABITAT 
Ajacis blue, violet May-Aug. 18 in. Annual Europe 
altissimum blue, purple Aug.-Sept. 3-4 ft. Perennial Himalaya 
bicolor blue, yellow May-Aug. 6-12 in. Perennial Colorado 
Brunoniamum blue, black June-July 6-18 in. Perennial China 
cardinale red July-Aug. 3 ft. Perennial California 
carolinianum azure-blue July 2 ft. Perennial N.C. to Ill. 
cashmerianum azure-blue July-Sept. 10-18 in. Perennial Himalaya 
cheilanthum yellow June-July 2-3 ft. Perennial Siberia 
decorum blue May-July 6-18 in. Perennial California 
elatum blue, violet June-Aug. 2-3 ft. Perennial Europe 
