DELPHINIUM, Nat. Ord. Ranunculace*. 



The perennial Delphiniums, commonly known as Larkspurs, are valuable plants, the foliage 

 clean and pretty, habit strong and good, the flowering branches 

 often four feet in height, the spikes of flowers six 

 inches or more in length, and generally compact. 

 The prevailing color is blue, and of the most 

 intense character imaginable. Some varieties 

 very light, azure blue, others of the darkest in- 

 digo shades. White and pink sorts are prized 

 by some, but none are so gorgeous as the bright 

 blues. Sow the seed in the spring, and very 

 strong plants will be produced by autumn, that 

 flower the next spring. Transplant from the 

 seed-bed early in the fall. Roots of old 

 plants may be divided either in the spring or 

 autumn, and thus after good plants are once pro- 

 cured, they may be increased indefinite.}'. The name Larkspur is given on account of the spur, 

 which resembles the spur of a bird, and forms a prominent feature in the flowers of this family. 



DIGITALIS, (Foxglove,) Nat. Ord. Scrophulariacece. 



The Digitalis is a stately plant, when well grown, with flower-stems at least three feet in 

 height. The raceme of flowers is at the extremity of the stem, several 

 score of them, and all drooping on one side, and sometimes covering 

 more than half its length, as may be seen in the small engraving. The 

 flowers are of an irregular bell shape, and the 

 engraving shows a flower of full size, marked in the 

 interior with circular dark spots which are inter- 

 spersed among a number of delicate, light colored 

 hairs. There are several varieties, differing some- 

 what in form and color, but we have shown the 

 general form, and the colors are white and different 

 shades of purple. The Digitalis is a native of 

 Europe, and the old variety, D. purpurea, may be 

 found on the sides of almost any of the shady 

 country lanes of England. The Digitalis is used 

 in medicine. Its common name is Foxglove. Per- 

 fectly hardy, and seeds may be sown in the spring, 

 in the garden, and transplanted as desired. In the 

 autumn large plants can be divided, and thus 

 plants may be increased indefinitely, but it is well 

 to secure a few fresh plants from seed occasionally, as is in this way only new colors and varie- 

 ties are obtained. 



HEDYSARUM, (French Honeysuckle,) Nat. Ord. Leguminosa. 

 Pretty much all the species of this genus are handsome flowering plants, producing racemes 

 of attractive, pea-formed flowers. H. coronarium is the best, and there is a 

 scarlet and a white variety. Strange to say, this Hedysarum is called 

 in England and America the French Honeysuckle, though it orig- 

 inated in Italy, and not in France, and bears no kind of resemblance to the 

 Honeysuckle, but more resembles clover, and as the children suck the tubes 

 of clover flowers and call them honeysuckles, perhaps this accounts for the 

 name. It is used in the South of Europe as green feed for cattle. It bears 

 some resemblance to the Scarlet Clover, but is a much bolder and hand- 

 somer flower, and really a most desirable Perennial. Every one who 

 secures a few plants will be highly pleased with the investment. Perfectly hardy, and seed may 

 be sown in the open ground. 



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