ON PERENNIAL LARKSPURS 239 



Propagation. The root-stock is thick and fleshy, the 

 roots differing entirely from fibrous things like Michael- 

 mas Daisies. They resemble the large, succulent roots 

 of the " Bleeding Heart," Dielytra (or, with modern 

 botanists, Dicentra] spectabilis. Somehow, the amateur 

 shrinks from dividing root-stocks thus composed much 

 more seriously than he does from dealing with stools 

 that consist of a thick network of fine fibres ; but should 

 he be standing with poised spade, hesitating and doubt- 

 ful, he may be encouraged to strike home boldly, provided 

 his clumps are strong, and are furnished with distinct 

 " crowns " or growing points. 



Soil. As bought from the nursery, in the first place, 

 the root-stocks are not, as a rule, ripe for division. They 

 consist generally of single " crowns " with a few strong 

 roots attached, and the amateur is not to split them up, 

 but, on the contrary, so to treat them as to get them a 

 good deal larger. With this object in view, he should 

 plant them some time between November and April 

 (both months inclusive) in soil that he has prepared 

 for them. The extent of the preparation may depend, 

 to some extent, on the character of the ground. Deep, 

 moist, " holding " soil is eminently qualified to give fine 

 Delphiniums, but the site ought not to be low and un- 

 drained, as they do not care for stagnant ground in 

 winter. Given drainage, and pulverisation to a depth of 

 eighteen inches or two feet, heavy clay will grow Del- 

 phiniums to perfection. The bottom soil ought to be 

 broken up when the ground is fairly dry in winter. If 

 the top soil breaks up in a very lumpy state, a coat of 

 decayed stable manure may be spread on it and left for 

 a few weeks. This, in conjunction with the spring rains, 

 will soften the surface, and it will crumble down into a 

 friable state by spring. I have had most encouraging 



