136 



FAMILIAR OARDEN FLOWERS. 



Division of the I'oots is best accomplislied in the spring, 

 especially in places where winter damp is a known enemy 

 to plants. None but an expert should cut the roots into 

 small pieces, for the smaller they are the more careful nurs- 

 ing will they need in the way of shading and watering. 



BelpJihiiiim formosum, the most generally useful of all 

 this family, was largely employed a few years ago as_a bed- 

 ding plant associated with scarlet pelargoniums. The two 

 kinds of plants being put out in alternate rows, the flower- 

 ing shoots of the delphinium were carefully bent down and 

 fixed with pegs, and thus the flowers were produced nearly 

 on a level with those of the pelargoniums, the result being 

 a very gay blending of the most brilliant blue with the 

 most fiery scarlet. 



The garden varieties of delphinium number about one 

 himdred. Amongst the best of the single varieties are 

 Formosum, Madame Hocic, Barlowi, Lavender, and Bella- 

 donna. Conspicuous for beauty amongst the double varie- 

 ties are Madame Genij, Roi Leopold, Hermann Slenger, 

 Keleleeri, and Azaremn plenum. 



