DELPHINIUM 



BUTTEBGUP OBDEB 



DELPHINIUM 159 



one drawn out into a spur behind. Petals 

 2-4, small, the 2 upper having spurs 

 within the sepaline spur, the two others 

 spurless or absent. Stamens numerous. 

 Carpels (follicles when ripe) 1-5. 



Culture and Propagation. — Perennial 

 Larkspurs will grow in almost any soil or 

 situation, but are most luxuriant when 

 given a deep mellow loam well enriched 

 with rotted manure, and fairly moist. As 

 the Larkspurs vary a good deal in height — 

 from 2 to 6 or 8 ft. — they are suitable for 

 planting in various situations. If in beds 

 by themselves, a distance of 2-3 ft. should 

 be between the plants, and greater distance 

 still when in borders with other perennials. 

 About every third or fourth year the 

 rootstocks may be divided and replanted. 

 This is best done in spring, just when the 

 plants have started into growth. Autumn 

 division is not advisable, as the roots are 

 apt to perish during hard winters, pro- 

 bably because the new ones have not had 

 sufficient time to obtain a, good hold of 

 the soU. 



As with many other flowers, so Delphi- 

 nium can be made to bloom a long time 

 by picking off the flowers or spikes as 

 soon as they begin to fade. The side 

 shoots are thus stimulated into growth, 

 and give a fresh supply of flowers. It 

 must, however, be borne in mind that 

 this continual development of flowers has 

 an exhausting effect on the plant's con- 

 stitution, and this should be counter- 

 balanced by heavy dressings of manxire 

 in either a solid or liquid state. 



Besides the process of dividing the 

 roots already mentioned, Larkspurs may 

 also be increased by seeds or cuttings. 

 Seeds of the perennial kinds are often 

 very slow. in germinating. Those of the 

 annual species may be sown out of doors 

 on a warm border in April, or better still 

 in pans or boxes, fi:om which the seed- 

 lings can in due course be pricked off into 

 light rich soil. In early autumn the seeds 

 may also be sown in cold frames, and the 

 seedlings planted out in mUd weather the 

 following spring. 



Cuttings of the perennial kinds are 

 made of the tops of the young shoots in 

 either spring or autumn. They should be 

 inserted in somewhat sandy soil either 

 singly in small pots, or several in a 

 shallow box, and placed in a cold frame, 

 excluding the air for a few days. When 

 well rooted the young plants may be 

 transferred to their permanent positions. 



Besides the natural species described 

 below, there are very many beautiful 

 florists' varieties having single, double, 

 and semi-double flowers in all shades of 

 blue, lilac, lavender, purple and violet. 

 As nurserymen are continually adding 

 new varieties, a reference to their cata- 

 logues may be better than giving a list 

 here, which would probably soon be out 

 of date. The following are the most 

 distinct natural Larkspurs : — 



D. Ajacis (BocTcet LarTsspu/r). — A 

 native annual of British cornfields, 12-18 

 in. high, with fine deeply cut leaves, and 

 blue, white or pink flowers about 1 in. 

 across, produced in long racemes in June 

 and July. 



D. Ajacis has given rise to very many 

 varieties of annual Larkspurs, which vary 

 a good deal in habit, and have a very 

 extensive range of colouring among the 

 single and double flowers. D. Ajacis 

 majus, D. A. minus, D. A. hyacvnthi- 

 Jlorum, and D. A. ra/nimcuUflorum may 

 be taken as types of the various sections 

 cultivated. 



Culture dc. as above. Seeds sown 

 annually. 



D. armeniacum. — Closely related is a 

 newer species native of Armenia. It 

 has the habit and general appearance of 

 D. Ajacis, but is more vigorous in growth, 

 and has soft, sky-blue flowers. 



Culture de. as above. Seeds sown 

 annually. 



D. azureum. — A perennial species 

 from N.W. America, about 3 ft. high, 

 with 3-5 -parted, many- cleft leaves with 

 linear lobes. The large beautiful sky- 

 blue flowers are borne on erect racemes 

 from May to July, the upper petals 

 being all bearded, the lower ones hairy. 

 The variety album has white flowers. 



Culture dc. as above. Increased by 

 seeds, division, or cuttings. 



D. brunonianum. — A rare species with 

 a strong musky odour, native of Thibet. 

 It is 6-12 in. high, the lower leaves being 

 kidney-shaped and deeply divided; the 

 upper ones 3-parted. The large light 

 blue flowers with purple margins aiid 

 black centre appear in June and July. 



Culture dc. as above. Increased by 

 seeds, division, or cuttings. 



D. cardinale (Scarlet LarJcspu/r). — 

 A handsome Californian annual 3-4 ft. 

 high, with smooth and somewhat fleshy 



