DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF FLOWERS. 191 



it and planted it in masses, producing flowers of a dazzling 

 blue color. There was no blue flower that produced so 

 brilliant an effect. It was more dwarfish than I). Sinen- 

 sis, growing about two feet high, the stems not so flexible, 

 and color much finer ; the flowers being double, I could 

 never obtain seed. Another seedling, called Breck's No. 

 2, color purplish blue, with semi-double flowers and infe- 

 rior to No. 1, I did not care to propagate, and let it die. 

 I believe the destruction of this beautiful variety was 

 caused by little maggot-like worms, which worked in the 

 roots. 



D. Henderson! is a beautiful variety, raised by Mr. Hen- 

 derson, a nurseryman of England ; probably from D. ela~ 

 turn, which it very much resejnbles in growth and foliage. 

 The flowers are sky-blue, with white centre, and are ar- 

 ranged in long spikes. 



D. formosnm. This is a splendid species or hybrid va- 

 riety, with large lively blue flowers, with the centre white, 

 shaded with reddish-purple; one of the most desirable 

 hardy herbaceous plants in cultivation. It blooms from 

 July to November, giving a supply of the most brilliant 

 blue throughout the season. A. codestinum is a variety 

 of formosum, or a hybrid of elatum, with sky-blue flow- 

 ers, equally hardy. There is also a large number of 

 hybrid Delphiniums, partaking of the habit of elatum, 

 which are beautiful ; but these described, will be sufficient 

 to make up a good collection. 



D, cardinalis is found in Southern California. I should 

 doubt its existence, had I not seen specimens of the dried 

 plant, which were of a brilliant scarlet. I saw it in the 

 herbarium of a gentleman, the editor of a paper in Los 

 Angelos, who gathered it himself. It was advertised by 

 some of the English and French nurserymen at about five 

 dollars a plant. I ordered one from each place, when, to 

 my great disappointment, it turned out to be D.puniceum, 



