168 



and channelled above ; the spike of flowers erecl, dense, and of dif. 

 ferent colonrs. 



There are varieties with single and double blue flowers; with 

 sino-le and double purple flowers; with single and double silver- 

 coloured flowers; with single and double violet-coloured flowers; 

 with single and double ash-coloured flowers; with single and double 

 striped flowers; Large Rocket Larkspur, and Dwarf or Rocket 

 Larkspur. 



The second species has a perennial root, which puts out two or 

 three branching stalks every spring, rising about a foot and a half 

 hio-h: the leaves are smooth and of a light green colour above, and 

 hoary beneath, composed of many narrow segments, which terminate 

 in several acute points: the flowers come out towards the upper part 

 of the stalks singly, each on a long naked peduncle; they are large, 

 and of a fine azure colour. They appear in June and July, and the 

 seeds ripen in autumn. iL is a native of Siberia. 



The third rises to the height of a man: the root is perennial: the 

 leaves slightly villose, becoming smooth by age, . half- five-lobed, pe- 

 tioled; lobes acute, often half-three-lobed, sharply serrate. The 

 spikes of flowers very long and handsome, of a deep blue colour, 

 with a wrinkled spur. It is a native of Switzerland, kc. flowering 

 Irom June to September. 



Culture. — These plants, in all the sorts and varieties, are propa- 

 gated by sowing the seeds in the early spring, as in February, March, 

 or the followino- month, or in the autumn immediately after the seeds 

 become ripe, in the clumps, borders, or other places where the plants 

 are to remain, as they do not succeed so perfectly by transplanting, 

 in patches of eight or ten in a place, covering the seed in to the depth 

 of nearly half an inch, the mould being previously rendered fine. 



Where the annual sort and varieties are cultivated for a large 

 show, the seed may be sown thinly in drills on beds four feet broad, 

 at a foot distance, covering it in to the above depth. They are some- 

 times sown in other forms for the purpose of appearance. 



The autumn sowings of these seeds should be marked by placing 



