ON PERENNIAL LARKSPURS 241 



tall and graceful as Hollyhocks, Foxgloves, or Eremuri. 

 In their best condition they are truly noble ornaments 

 of the herbaceous border. They may be set a yard 

 apart, in groups, large or small, according to the space 

 available, and may be blended with pillar Roses, Paeonies, 

 Phloxes, and other good border plants. In the case of 

 small borders, where grouping is impracticable, they may 

 be set in a row at the back, as Hollyhocks were in their 

 palmy days ; and they will worthily wear the mantle 

 which the Hollyhock has been compelled to lay down 

 owing to disease. The Delphinium has no specific 

 enemy of any note, and always given good culture 

 it is a perfectly healthy and happy plant. 



When the plants become dingy in the autumn, they 

 may be cut to the ground. If the root-stocks are not 

 to be divided the soil may be forked up around them, 

 and some manure worked in or laid on the surface 

 as a mulch. Should slugs attack the young growths 

 seriously, some freshly slaked lime may be strewn 

 about. 



Seedlings. Blue is not the only colour which the 

 Delphinium gives us. We have white, pale yellow, and 

 rose. Again, some are semi-double, and some full double. 

 There are, too, scarlet species in cardinale and nudicaule. 

 Both are fine plants, but the latter is a dwarf grower. 

 These are easily raised from seed, and strong plants 

 can be secured by autumn if the seed is sown in a 

 box in spring, and put in a cold frame. If the seedlings 

 are kept thin, put out a few inches apart in summer, 

 and watered in dry weather, they will be in good con- 

 dition for planting in September or later. If the soil 

 is heavy and undrained, they ought not to be planted 

 before spring, but they must not overcrowd each other 

 in the nursery bed. 



