130 THE GOLD MINE 



description, and it is equally impossible to place their 

 towering and densely-flowered spikes before the public 

 at the summer exhibitions in a manner worthy of them. 

 Those who have not the opportunity of seeing these 

 plants in flower, or a collection of them well established, 

 may form some idea of a group with the flower spikes 

 five to eight feet high, and densely clothed for about 

 half their length with exquisitely beautiful blooms. Of 

 course the plants do not reach such perfection in the 

 first year, but in the second year they certainly con- 

 stitute the grandest possible display. While making 

 the garden gay for a long season, they are in the great- 

 est perfection in June and July, but a judicious selec- 

 tion of them may somewhat extend that period. Where 

 seed is not required the plants should be cut down as 

 soon as flowering is over, and in the late summer months 

 many of them will yield another set of spikes, not so 

 fine, of course, as the first ones. The shades of blue, 

 both light and dark, are very numerous; others, again, 

 have flowers of the deepest indigo and violet, while less 

 numerous are those with bronzy and metallic hues com- 

 bined with other shades. — Gardening Illustrated. 



I here give place for an excellent article from 

 E. Hemming, in Florists' Exchange of July 9, 1904: 



Among hardy perennials the Delphinium, or Peren- 

 nial Larkspur, has held front place for the past two 

 weeks. Closely following the late varieties of Paeonies, 

 they stand out as the most showy border plants bloom- 

 ing at the present time. A good, large collection of 

 these plants is a sight to be remembered, especially 



