thrive on sand, loam or clay, and may be freely used to carpet rose Anchusz 
beds, edge paths, or trail down banks with the silver-leaved and 
Cerastium tomentosum. V. longifolia subsessilis produces handsome Delphinium 
deep-blue spikes of blue in July; while, among many others, 
spicata and imcana must be mentioned as useful dwarf 
varieties. 
The Anchusas belong to another race of very useful blue 
plants. 4. salica is the best of all, and may be procured in 
three distinct shades—a rather common dark blue, a full cobalt 
now called the Dropmore variety, and a pale shade. Plants 
can be quickly raised by sowing in the spring, if ripe true seed 
can be procured, but the safest and most satisfactory means of 
increase is to take root cuttings in the spring. ‘Though not 
nearly so beautiful as Delphiniums, they vie with them in popu- 
larity, owing to the earliness and the length of their flowering 
season. Well-established plants should be five feet high, and 
make a rich display grouped with Jrzs Orientals, white Canter- 
bury Bells and Campanula grandis. 
Delphiniums are too well known to need much comment, 
but perhaps it is hardly realised enough, how quickly they may 
be raised from seed. A good strain should be secured, and if 
sown early the plants flower in the autumn, so that the good 
varieties can be at once selected and the bad thrown away. 
Much has been done of recent years to improve both the length 
of the spike and the size of the flower, and there are now a 
number of named varieties. 
The following list of Delphiniums may perhaps be found 
useful, if a start has to be made with bought plants. 
Belladonna A lovely pale blue. Dwarf. 
Igl 
