1 8 GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



The way to raise Canterbury Bells is from seed, regarding them as 

 biennial. Sow out of doors in June, the great month for sowing bien- 

 nials, and the result will be sturdy tufts for putting out where they are 

 to flower in the following autumn. Any good soil. Height 3 feet. The 

 great Campanula tribe, to which the Canterbury Bell belongs, is described 

 on p. 551. 



Delphiniums (Perennial Larkspurs). This is a noble group of 

 perennial plants, strong, stately, and indispensable. In June or July 

 the tall, handsome spikes give dignity to the garden, and the Del- 

 phiniums may be planted almost anywhere, massed or grouped in threes 

 or fours in the mixed border, or planted amongst evergreen shrubs. 

 There is an annual race, which is sown each spring. Many beautiful 

 varieties of Perennial Larkspur have been raised of late years by Messrs. 

 Kelway & Son, and others ; indeed, the list has grown so long, and all 

 the varieties possess some merit, that we hesitate to recommend any 

 where all are so good. The best way is to see a collection, if possible, 

 or ask for a strong blue, purple, lavender, or some decided colour. A 

 tall, cylindrical spike, of symmetrical character forms the chief stem, 

 and when this is removed after its beauty is over, side-growths will 

 prolong the display. A very effective type of Larkspur is that in which 

 the centre is blue and outer florets creamy white. It must not be for- 

 gotten that there are yellow Perennial Larkspurs Beauty of Langport 

 and Primrose being two of this kind. Kelway also raised the white- 

 flowered Phyllis Kelway. It must be a poor garden that will not grow 

 Delphiniums. Like the Paeony, it enjoys a very rich soil ; and, given 

 this, and. attention with regard to water during dry summers, the plants 

 should produce sheafs of blossom. Slugs have a special fondness for 

 Delphiniums during the winter, and where troublesome, strew ashes over 

 the crowns. The way to propagate is by division of the roots, which is 

 best done in spring as the new growth is commencing. Cuttings will 

 root best in spring, and seed may be sown in April under glass. Sow in 

 shallow pans, and prick off the seedlings when large enough to handle 

 where they are to flower. It is interesting to watch the seedlings flower. 

 They are in the nature of a prize packet. 



Foxgloves. The foxglove appeals to the flower gardener. We 

 know it as a beautiful native flower, purpling with colour the woodland 

 or grassy bank. In the small garden as well as in the large domain 

 with woodland walks and large belts of shrubs the Foxglove will rear 

 itself. It is a plant for a shady border where Ferns, Spanish Scillas, 

 Day-lilies, and similar shade-loving things are happy. In many a garden 

 such a border exists, frequently in the suburban garden, where it is 

 impossible to get away from trees and shrubs planted by one's neigh- 

 bour to overhang the fence and cast a deep shadow across one part of 

 the garden. There the Foxglove is quite content to flower and repro- 

 duce itself by self-sown seedlings, in truth to establish a colony. Sow 

 the seed in May or June where the seedlings are to remain, or plant out 

 seedlings in the autumn or in the spring. Get some seed of a strain 

 called Gloxiniaeflora, which has larger flowers than those of our native 



