THE HOME FLORIST. 



DELPHINIUM LARKSPUR (Hardy Annuals and Perennials). 



ANNUAL DELPHINIUMS. A class of annuals possessing bright colors and free flowering 

 qualities that are worthy of culture in every considerable garden collection. The dwarf varieties 

 are regarded as the most beautiful. They attain a height of one foot, throwing up a flower 

 shoot that somewhat resembles a Hyacinth. These should stand at a distance of six inches from 

 each other, and the tall varieties a foot and a half apart. Sow where they are to bloom. 



DELPHINIUM FORMOSUM is one of the most desirable hardy perennial plants in cultivation. 

 It blooms more or less freely from July until November, giving a supply of exceedingly attrac- 

 tive flowers. The flowers are large, lively blue, with the center white, shaded with reddish 

 purple. When the plants become large they should be divided and reset; they can also be 

 grown true from seed, which should be sown in spring, and will flower the next summer. 



Fig. 41. Diadem Pink (Dianthus Heddewigii Diadematus fl. pi.). 



DEUTZIA (Hardy Shrub). 



Although a family of hardy shrubs, and one of the best for permanent planting, the 

 varieties Deutzia Gracilis, pure white, and Deutzia Gracilis fl. pi., double, pure white, serve 

 admirably for pot culture and forcing into flower in the window or conservatory. The plants 

 should be grown in the open ground, and after the leaves have fallen in autumn, be brought into 

 the cold-pit or cellar, until New Year's, after which time they may be taken to the window or 

 conservatory for flowering. With bearing a profusion of pretty flowers in due time, nothing can 

 be handsomer. 



DIANTHUS (Hardy Perennial). 



This is an extensive genus of desirable flowering plants, which embrace numerous important 

 kinds, the Carnation, Garden Pink, Sweet William, etc., being of the number. I shall here 

 treat of those that are generally reared from seed, the others will be found under their respective 

 heads. The species known as D. Chinensis, embracing the old Chinese Pink, very much 

 improved of late years, and the new and superb varieties from Japan, known as D. Heddewigii 

 and lacinatus, with the new varieties springing from them through the means of hybridization 

 (see illustration of Diadem Pink, Fig. 41), are among the most brilliant and useful of garden 

 flowers. They are easily reared from seed in any good soil, and flower freely during the season, 

 even up to winter, and for several years, provided they are in suitable condition for surviving the 



