164 GARDENING FOE YOUNG AND OLD. 



strong and the weather warm, transplant them into a 

 very rich, well-prepared border, from ten to fifteen inches 

 apart. If you have dwarf varieties, they may be set 

 seven or eight inches apart, or nearly wide enough apart 

 to admit the use of a narrow hoe. I mention this, be- 

 cause it is exceedingly important to keep the soil well 

 stirred and entirely free from weeds. The plants will 

 flower all summer, and it is absolutely necessary to have 

 the soil very rich, or this profuse production of flowers 

 will weaken the young plants. If the plants do not grow 

 vigorously, pinch off the flower-buds, and water the bed 

 with water containing an ounce, or about a tablespoonf ul 

 of superphosphate to a gallon, applying a gallon of this 

 solution to a dozen plants. The dose may be repeat- 

 ed in two weeks; more than this will not be necessary, 

 though another dose will do no harm. 



DELPHINIUM, OK LARKSPUR 



The Rocket Larkspur is a well-known and popular flow- 

 er, easily grown from seed. But as it is not transplant- 

 ed very readily, and has to be sown in the open ground, 

 where the plants are to remain, it does not make as large 

 a growth as it would if it could bo started in a hot-bed. 

 Sow the seed in a well-prepared border as early in the 

 spring as the ground can be got into good condition. Sow 

 in rows a foot apart, and thin out the plants to four or five 

 inches apart in the row. Keep the ground clean, and 

 water with a little superphosphate water, as directed for 

 the Pinks. Or what will perhaps be just as well in 

 this case, sow from one to two ounces, or one to two 

 tablespoonfuls, of superphosphate to each square yard of 

 bed at the time of sowing the seed, or at any time after- 

 wards, when there is a prospect of a good soaking rain. 



The Branching Larkspur requires more room than the 

 Rocket Larkspur, and the plants should be set from 



