33 



Delphinium var. 'Imperial Mantle. '—\Aith flowers dark blue in 

 colour this variety often reaches a height of 7 feet. A succession 

 of bloom in Delphiniums is obtained during June, July, and August, 

 by continually cutting off the flowering spikes as soon as they are 

 finished, and so preventing seed development. Every three or four 

 5'ears or so they should be divided and replanted, the best time to 

 do it being in spring, just as growth commences, or in summer. If 

 at the latter period, cut down the plants a week or ten days before 

 division, till growth re-starts. Then carefully divide and replant, 

 taking care to shade and water efiiciently till tJiey are established. 



Verbaseum olympicum. — One of the grandest of the Verbascums, 

 6 feet or more high, of sturdy growth, and having rich yellow flowers, 

 which appear from May to August. The usual methods adopted for 

 increasing this V^erbascum, as well as others, are by seeds, sown about 

 May, or by di\asion of the rootstock. 



Galega officinalis Hartlandi. — This is a native of Southern Europe 

 and exhibits its pretty mauve and white flowers throughout the 

 greater part of the summer. Reaching a height of 5 feet, it is most 

 easily propagated by root division. If all dead flowers are kept 

 pinched off, so that seed development is prevented, plants of this 

 Galega frequently bloom again during autumn. 



Aster 'Lil Fardell.' — A variety with rose-pink flowers, appearing at 

 their best in late summer. The plant itself reaches a height of 5 or 

 6 feet, and is propagated as mentioned before for Asters. 



Rudbeckia laciniata. — This is the tallest of the Rudbeckias, reaching 

 anything from 7 to 10 feet in height and sometimes more. The leaves, 

 as the name implies, are unevenly divided into narrow ribbons, or 

 cut into larger lobes, different individuals varying much in leafage. 

 Appearing early in August, the flower is large, 3 to 4 inches across, 

 clear 5WII0W in colour, having the rays curved downwards and a 

 greenish conical disc. Plants Uve mciny years without spreading 

 much, but are easily divided. Should the seed escape the attentions 

 of the chafl&nches and green linnets, self-sown seedUngs come up 

 round the plants quite easilj'. 



Helianthus mollis. — Like the Michaelmas Daisies, the perennial 

 Helianthus could ill be spared from the autumn garden. This par- 

 ticular one is no exception, cmd, growing up to 6 feet in height, 

 exhibits its golden-yellow flowers from July to October. The usual 

 method of propagating H. mollis is by division in autumn or spring. 



Lupinus arboreus. — A valuable plant for dry soils and rocky 

 banks, but also worth its place on the border. Its purplish variety 

 is good, and there are some inferior " yellowish " varieties, but the 

 best of all is the real yellow one, because whilst there are good 

 blue perennial lupines there is no other good yellow. It forms a 

 roundish bush 2 to 4 feet high, and is easilyraised from'seeds ; handsome 

 forms are usually increased by cuttings. It may be killed in severe 

 winters, but is worth raising from time to time if this happens, where 

 the soil suits it. 



