IRISH GARDENING. 



41 



Delphiniums. 



By C. F. BALL. Royal Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin. 



EVERYONE is familiar with the perennial 

 larkspur, as its good all-round qualities 

 have made it a g-eneral favourite. Whether 

 planted in a small g-arden or massed pompously 

 in a large bed on a lawn, the delphinium seems 

 equally at home. Moreover, if its colour was 

 entirely absent from the herbaceous border in 

 June and July the g-ardener would probably 

 have the " blues " himself. 



Although such good species as £>. fonnosmn, 

 ela t mil and 

 grandifloruin 

 have helped to 

 build up the 

 present race of 

 garden varie- 

 ties, these origi- 

 nal species have 

 been far sur- 

 passed by the 

 hybridist, and 

 we have now 

 a wonderful 

 range of blue in 

 both single and 

 double flowers. 

 From a delicate 

 porcelain blue 

 we pass to 

 deeper shades 

 of plum and in- 

 digo, or the 

 blue may be 

 contrasted with 

 a white or black 

 centre. These 

 named hybrids 

 may be pur- 

 chased from 

 hardy plants- 

 men at 7s. 6d. to 15s. per dozen. To pro- 

 duce massive spikes as shown at our flower 

 shows these plants must have generous treat- 

 ment. If at all numerous the shoots arising 

 from the stools must be thinned in spring, 

 the remaining ones being secured to stakes 

 to prevent breakage by the wind. As soon as 

 the centre spike is faded cut it right away ; 

 by this means the side shoots may be induced 

 to form a succession of bloom, or the plants 

 may be cut down to the base, and if fed with 

 liquid manure an autumnal display follows. 



The best time to divide delphiniums is early 

 autumn before growth has ceased, or in spring 

 when growth has commenced. The named 

 varieties may also be propagated by cuttings 

 taken in spring with a heel, and inserted singly 



Photo /I'l 



A Striking Group of Delphinium 



in small pots, and placed in a cool frame or one 

 with a slight bottom heat. 



The best soil is a deep, rich loam, but where 

 the soil happens to be light, add plenty of well- 

 rotted manure. Unfortunately some of the 

 delphinium species are not so easily grown as 

 the hybrids. In few genera do we find such a 

 range of colour, for though the blue and lilac 

 shades preponderate, yet there are whites, 

 yellows, and scarlets. 



The scarlets are furnished by Delphinium 

 cardinale and nudicaide — the latter is quite 

 dwarf, rarely exceeding 18 inches. The best 

 plan is to treat them as biennials ; if sown in 



the spring they 

 should flower 

 the following 

 season. 



One rarely 

 has the pleasure 

 of seeing D. 

 s XI I p hti reuvi 

 (syn. zalil)y for 

 it is a rather 

 rare plant, but 

 a lovely one 

 when happy, 

 being lighter 

 and more ele- 

 gant in growth 

 than the ma- 

 jority, reaching 

 about 3 to 5 feet. 

 Syria is its 

 native country, 

 where the 

 flowers are used 

 for dyeing silk. 

 D. brunoni- 

 aniim'xs another 

 interesting 

 species coming 

 from Thibet, 

 and has a 

 strong rnusk scent. The flowers are large, with 

 peculiar parchment-like petals, in colour light 

 purple, veined with a darker colour. There are 

 two forms oi D. gmndiflormn which will appeal 

 to many people — they are D. grnndifloriim 

 coelestinuvi^ a truly celestial blue, and a double 

 form, which, though an old plant, is still rare, 

 but of remarkable beauty. 



The annual larkspurs are forms of D. ajacis 

 and consolida ; if sown during March or April 

 will brighten the borders throughout the sum- 

 mer months. 



There are several good strains now off'ered, as 

 the Stock-flowered and the Ranunculus-flowered. 

 The seed should be sown thinly, thinning further 

 when the plants are large enough to avoid over- 

 crowding and to ensure the best results. 



[C7. O. Sherraid. 

 s, Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin. 



