THE DELPHINIUM. 



135 



growing. A good plan is to put half a peck of the fine 

 compost down to each root where layers are to be made, 

 and level it fairly down under 

 the layers or the young 

 grass to be layered. Then 

 proceed to the layering ; trim 

 all the leaves oft' from the 

 third joint from the top of the 

 stuff to be layered ; make a 

 tongue on the under side up- 

 ward, setting the knife in at 

 the joint, cutting carefully 

 half-way through, and draw- 

 ing it upward to the next 

 joint ; then carefully spring 

 the tongue out by bending 

 the layer and bringing the 

 top upright, scratch a hole in 

 the soil, and bend the layer 

 down into it, keeping the Fig. 31.— Carnation cutting. 

 tongue open; peg the layer The line shows the depth to 



i ■li i i ' l insert it in the soil. 



down with a wooden hook, The Carnation piping may 



and cover all With the fine contain one more joint with 



soil. If the weather is dry, advantage. 



give a good watering when all the layers of a few 

 plants are done. 



The Delphinium. 



The Delphiniums are a genus -of as noble and hardy 

 perennial plants as any we possess. The new addition, 

 D. Nudicaali, is the only one that approaches scarlet, 

 the prevailing colour being blue. No flower-garden 

 should be without some good clumps of Delphinium, for 

 I know of no hardy perennial so well deserving a pro- 

 minent place in the borders as they do. They are mul- 

 tiplied by seed and by dividing the root. The seed 

 should be sown in pans or in the open ground in the 

 spring, and shaded a little till it is up. The roots maybe 

 divided after they have done flowering, or in the spring. 

 The slugs are great enemies to the Delphiniums. 



