36 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 



They are half-hardy, and the seeds should be sown in 

 moderate heat in March, and the seedlings potted off singly 

 as soon as large enough, gradually hardening them ready 

 for planting in a sunny place in early June. They vary a 

 little in height, but are generally about 3 feet. 



Annual species, or species that may be treated as Annuals, 

 are D. ceratocaula, 3 feet, white, shaded with purple, sweetly 

 scented ; D.chlorantha fl. pL, yellow, double, fragrant (Golden 

 Queen is probably a selected form of this species) ; D.fastuosa, 

 2h feet, white interior, violet exterior ; D. Metel, i\ feet, white, 

 fragrant, a fine plant ; D. niuricata, 2\ feet, white ; D. querci- 

 folia, 2 feet, violet shaded ; D. Stramoniuvi, 2 feet, white, a 

 native plant, but of little garden value ; D. Tatula, 2\ feet, 

 violet ; and D. T. gigantea, a giant form of the latter. A strain 

 offered under the name of D. Ihtberiana produces beautiful 

 duplex flowers in several shades of colour. 



DELPHINIUM 



*' Larkspur " 



The Larkspurs {Ranuncu/acecB) are old time favourites, and 

 the annual species or their garden varieties are among the 

 most popular of flowers. They are hardy, free flowering, 

 stately and elegant, and the flowers exhibit a considerable 

 range of colours. Practically every colour produced is 

 represented by double and single forms, and by tall and 

 dwarf strains, these latter being respectively about 3 feet and 

 I foot high. The florists have altered the form of the flower 

 somewhat, as well as of the spike, so that we have now 

 what are called Stock -flowered. Hyacinth -flowered, and 

 Emperor strains : the Emperor strain is of sturdy growth and 

 erect bushy habit, and flowers a little later than the Stock- 

 flowered sorts. Emperor Larkspurs probably come from 



