IRISH GARDENING. 



157 



Some Wild Delphiniums. 



Compared with the garden varieties of the present 

 day, few of the tall, blue species of Delphinium are 

 worth growing. Delphinium funnosum is one of 

 the best, and probably gave origin to some of the 

 types now common in gardens — such as the Bella- 

 donna set, for instance. 



There are some dwarf species, however, of rare 

 merit for the rock garden, and some taller bien- 

 nials that repay ^ood cultivation and never fail to 

 call forth admiration when seen in good form. 



I>. Brunonianum is one of the dwarf sorts, hail- 

 ing from Thibet and growing only a foot or per- 

 haps eighteen inches high. It bears light, purple 

 flowers, borne in clusters rather than in a spike, 

 as is common with the taller species. The centre 



elegance of the Avhole plant. It flourishes in good 

 soil, not too dry, but efficiently drained, and, 

 although a perennial more or less, is best treated 

 as a biennial, sowing seeds every autumn as soon 

 as ripe, putting out the young plants the following 

 spring. 



1). mtdiraide, from California, is deservedly 

 popular, flowering from summer on into autunm. 

 The colour is practically orange red in effect, seed- 

 lings varying a little perhaps in depth of shade. 

 The leaves are rather fleshy in texture, and sparse 

 at flowering time. Although perennial, the best 

 results are got from sowing annually, when a good 

 display is certain throughout the sununer. 



]>. sulphureum. from Syria, is remarkable in its 

 rare yellow flowers, but it is by no means easy to 

 cultivate. The seeds should be sown where they 



of the flower is black, and the plant has a musky 

 odour. 



D. Cardinale is a remarkably fine species requir- 

 ing some care in cultivation. It is one of the taller 

 kinds, reaching at least four feet when well grown, 

 and producing handsome spikes of scarlet and 

 yellow flowers. It is a biennial, forming thick, 

 fleshy roots, and should he sown in summer or 

 autumn in boxes or in the open, and left till the 

 following spring, when it should be very carefully 

 transplanted to the borders. 



I), ((ishmirianum is a low-growing perennial 

 from Kashmir, growing about eighteen inches higli 

 and bearing corymbs of pale blue flowers. An or- 

 namental plant for the rockery, rejoicing in a 

 sunny position in good, well-drained soil. 



D. (jrandiflorum is one of the finest kinds we 

 have, either for the rock garden or herbaceous 

 border. In colour the flowers are of the brightest 

 blue, varying somewhat in shade, but always of 

 a good blue, except in the white variety. 



J), (irondiflorum " ('i)ierariii " is a popular 

 variety at the present time. The leaves are very 

 prettily cut into fine segments which adds to the 



can remain for a year, and, if to be transplanted, 

 great care nuist be exercised in lifting, as the roots 

 are susceptible to any injury. If it could be 

 arranged to sow the seeds where the plants could 

 remain to flower, better results would attend the 

 cultivation of this choice plant. It will grow at 

 least four feet high when happy, and should have 

 a deep soil in a sunny position. In all cases it is 

 advisable to sow seeds as soon as they are ripe. 



L.\RKSPUR. 



Annuals for Autumn Sowing. 



It is a good plan to sow seeds of some of the best 

 annuals now for transplanting in spring. It is best 

 to sow in pans or boxes in a cold frame, pricking 

 out the seedlings into other receptacles as oppor- 

 tunity affords during late winter and early spring. 

 When the weather is favourable in late April they 

 may be put out in beds and borders, and will afford 

 an excellent early display. Larkspurs. Clarkias, 

 Godetias, Sweet Peas, and Chrysanthenuuus of the 

 " Star " set are some of the most suitable for 

 present sowing. 



