DELPHINIUM. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



DELPHINIUM. 



537 



their individual blooms, some of which 

 are single, some semi-double, and some 

 perfectly double, and all set on spikes 

 ranging from i to 6 ft. in length. About 

 a dozen species have given rise to the 

 cultivated varieties, the chief species 

 being D. grandiflorum, formosum, lasio- 

 stachyum, cheilanthum, elatum, and pere- 



Delphinium 



Culture and Position. — The com- 

 binations in which they can be placed are 

 numerous. They are splendid objects in 

 various positions, and may be used in 

 various ways — in the mixed border, in 

 masses or groups in one or several colours, 

 or associated with other flowering plants 

 or with shrubs. Perennial Larkspurs 

 thrive in almost any situation or soil ; 

 they are easily increased, and are quite 

 hardy. A deep friable loam, enriched 



with rotten manure, is a good soil for 

 them, but they will grow well in a hot 

 sandy soil if it be heavily manured and 

 watered. Every three or four years they 

 should be replanted and divided, and this 

 is best done in spring, just as they are 

 starting into growth, or in summer ; if it 

 is done in summer, cut down the plants 

 intended for division, and let them remain 

 for a week or ten days until they start 

 afresh ; then carefully divide and replant 

 them, shading and watering until they 

 are established. Late autumn division is 

 not advisable. Delphiniums can be made 

 to bloom for several months by continually 

 cutting off the spikes immediately after 

 they have done flowering. If the central 

 spike be removed, the side shoots will 

 flower, and by thus cutting off the old 

 flowers before they form seeds we cause 

 fresh shoots to issue from the base, and to 

 keep up a succession of bloom. Another 

 plan is to let the shoots remain intact 

 until all have nearly done flowering, and 

 then to cut the entire plant to the ground, 

 when in about three weeks there will be a 

 fresh bloom. In this case, however, to 

 keep the plants from becoming exhausted, 

 they must have a heavy dressing of 

 manure or manure-water. Top-dressings 

 keep the soil cool and moist, give the plants 

 a healthier growth, increase the number 

 and improve the quality of the flowers. 



The following is a selection of the good 

 kinds : Shigle Varieties. — Belladonna, 

 Hendersoni, Cambridge, Granville, Gloire 

 de St. Mande, Barlowi, versicolor. 

 Coronet, magnificum. Lavender, pul- 

 chrum, formosum, lilacinum, Celestial, 

 Madame Hock, mesoleucum superbum, 

 Defiance, and Attraction. The grower 

 should consult his own taste, and raise 

 seedlings of his own, taking care to have 

 a good stock of the standard varieties he 

 likes best. Double Varieties. — Madame 

 E. Geny, Madame Henri Jacotot, Madame 

 Richalet, Pompon Brilliant, Roi Leopold, 

 Hermann Stenger, Claire Courant, 

 George Taylor, Roncevaux, Le XlXe. 

 Si^cle, Keteleeri, Prince of Wales, General 

 Ulrich, Arc en Ciel, Sphere, Michael 

 Angelo, Delight, Glynn, Barlowi vittatum, 

 Star, Perfectum novum, Triomphe de 

 Pontoise, Pompon de Tirlemont, Victor 

 Lemoine, Trophee, Madame Henri 

 Galotat, Louis Figuier, Azureum plenum, 

 and Madame Ravillana. The beautiful 

 old D. grandiflorum fl.-pl., another double 

 variety, is one of the most charming of 

 border plants. 



The best of the numerous perennial 

 species distinct from the hybrids are — D. 

 cashmerianum, with flowers nearly as 



