276 Iberbaceous BMants. 



raon larkspur, brings a profusion of deep blue flowers in 

 July or August. The following are very handsome annuals : 

 field larkspur (D. eonsolided), common in fields, a loose and 

 straggling plant with few-flowered racemes. Flowers blue, 

 white, or pink, showy. Rocket larkspur (D. Ajacis), a com- 

 mon garden plant with single or double flowers of many 

 colors. Both are excellent border plants. The red-flowered 

 larkspur (D. nudicaide)^ a dwarf plant with peltate leaves 

 and upright, almost leafless racemes of beautiful scarlet-red 

 flowers, and the dwarf larkspur (I), tricorne), a plant seldom 

 a foot high, with five-parted leaves and showy blue flow- 

 ers ; are best grown in rockeries. All the Delphiniums do 

 best in a rich and light sandy loam. The taller forms are 

 fine on the border of shrubberies or in the common border. 

 All are readily increased by means of seeds. 



Monkshood, Aconitum Napellus. An elegant butpoison- 

 ous perennial with dark, pedately lobed leaves, leafy stems 

 three to four feet high, and single racemes of hooded flowers, 

 blue with a metallic lustre. The variegated monkshood 

 (A. variegatum) is a still more elegant plant with branched 

 racemes of white and blue flowers. Both flower in June or 

 July ; they are among the old standard border plants. The 

 roots are poisonous and must never be left in the hand of a 

 child. Thrive well in any rich garden soil. 



Peony, Pceonia officinalis, albiflora, and tenuifolia. 

 The various species of peony are our most showy garden 

 plants, valuable for borders, rockeries, and as specimen plants 

 on the lawn. They are of a very graceful habit with beau- 

 tiful foliage and bright or sometimes delicately colored 

 flowers. The double-flowered forms are special favorites; 



