thrive on sand, loam or clay, and may be freely used to carpet rose Anchusae 

 beds, edge paths, or trail down banks with the silver-leaved and 

 Cerastium tomentosum. V. longifolia subsessilis produces handsome Delphinium 

 deep-blue spikes of blue in July ; while, among many others, 

 spicata and incana must be mentioned as useful dwarf 

 varieties. 



The Anchusas belong to another race of very useful blue 

 plants. A. italica is the best of all, and may be procured in 

 three distinct shades a rather common dark blue, a full cobalt 

 now called the Dropmore variety, and a pale shade. Plants 

 can be quickly raised by sowing in the spring, if ripe true seed 

 can be procured, but the safest and most satisfactory means of 

 increase is to take root cuttings in the spring. Though not 

 nearly so beautiful as Delphiniums, they vie with them in popu- 

 larity, owing to the earliness and the length of their flowering 

 season. Well-established plants should be five feet high, and 

 make a rich display grouped with Iris Qrientalis, white Canter- 

 bury Bells and Campanula grandis. 



Delphiniums are too well known to need much comment, 

 but perhaps it is hardly realised enough, how quickly they may 

 be raised from seed. A good strain should be secured, and if 

 sown early the plants flower in the autumn, so that the good 

 varieties can be at once selected and the bad thrown away. 

 Much has been done of recent years to improve both the length 

 of the spike and the size of the flower, and there are now a 

 number of named varieties. 



The following list of Delphiniums may perhaps be found 

 useful, if a start has to be made with bought plants. 



Belladonna A lovely pale blue. Dwarf. 



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