538 



DELPHINIUM. 



7 'HE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



DELPHINIUM. 



large as those of D. formosum, and with 

 stems about 1 5 in. in height. The flowers 

 are I in. in diameter, and are usually of 

 a light blue-purple, but they vary in shade 

 to mauve and dark blue, and are produced 

 in terminal corymbs of six or more. D. 

 cashmerianum is well suited for the 

 border or for a large rockery ; in either 

 case perfect drainage is essential, and 

 this is best attained in rock-garden 

 culture. Its branches have a prostrate 

 habit, apparently adapting it to such con- 

 ditions. It is best increased from seed. 

 D. cardinale is a beautiful species of tall 



nial, is easily raised from seed, and con- 

 tinues to flower throughout the summer 

 till late in autumn. It is suited for borders 

 and beds. D. nudicaule has scarlet 

 blossoms, a dwarf, compact, branching 

 growth, a hardy constitution, and a free 

 blooming habit, i to 3 ft. high. The 

 flowers are in loose spikes, each blossom 

 being about i in. in length ; the colour 

 varies from light scarlet to a shade verging 

 closely on crimson, and when seen in the 

 open air, especially in sunshine, dazzles 

 the eye by its brilliancy. D. nudicaule is 

 perfectly hardy, and commences growth 



Delphinium grandiflorum. 



growth, having bright-scarlet flowers, like 

 those of D. nudicaule. It blossoms later 

 in summer, and continues longer in flower 

 than D. nudicaule, owing in part to its 

 slower development. It is a most desirable 

 plant, and as hardy as D. nudicaule. 

 Seedlings will probably not flower till the 

 second season. In very damp soil it 

 would be prudent in winter to protect the 

 root with a hand-light or inverted pot. 

 D. chinense is distinct from other Lark- 

 spurs, and is neat and rather dwarf in 

 growth, having finely cut feathery foliage, 

 and freely producing spikes of large 

 blossoms, usually of a rich blue-purple, 

 but sometimes white. It is a good peren- 



so early that it may almost be termed a 

 spring flower, but it may be had in bloom 

 during several of the summer months, 

 and is handsome for warm borders. Al- 

 though somewhat apt to damp off on level 

 ground, it is a perennial on raised ground, 

 and keeps up a succession of bloom. It 

 is as easy to .raise from seed as other 

 Larkspurs. A tall variety of nudicaule 

 is called elatius. 



THE ANNUAL LARKSPURS. In these 

 hardy annuals there is also a wealth of 

 beauty for the summer garden, and we 

 have a host of beautiful sorts with a wide 

 range of colour. There is great diversity 

 too in the habit of growth, some being as 



