LARKSPUR. lis 



Lark's-spur is unappropriate when the spur is 

 not retained. The Delphinium, although it loses 

 its spur by the increase of its petals, yet retains 

 an advantage over the Double Stock, and many 

 other flowers which lose their parts of fruc- 

 tification when their petals are multiplied, for 

 the Delphinium retains its anthers and stigmas, 

 and consequently produces seed ; but if this seed 

 be suffered to sow itself in the autumn, it gene- 

 rally returns to its natural single state, whilst the 

 seed that is kept dry and sown later in the season 

 or in the spring, produces double flowers. This 

 species of Upright Larkspur, Delphinium Ajacisy 

 is a native of Switzerland, but in late times it 

 has been found growing spontaneously in several 

 parts of the south of Europe ; it is generally 

 thought to have escaped from neighbouring gar- 

 dens. 



The seeds of the different coloured varieties 

 should be kept distinct, as this affords an oppor- 

 tunity of raising clumps of separate colours, 

 which gives a pleasing effect ; yet we recommend 

 some patches to be sown with all the colours 

 mixed. We have frequently admired them in the 

 Royal gardens of France when thus mixed, and 

 this flower is more attended to in that country 

 than with us. These plants send down long 

 fibres and therefore will not bear transplanting, 



Vol. H. i 



