EY 1] HENRY A DREER -DHILADELDHIAPA- 
(2) aor DFRenAL, PLANTS: {E/T 
189 
Dreer’s Delphiniums 
OR HARDY LARKSPURS. 
These are deservedly one of the most popular subjects in the hardy border, bold, attractive and highly prepossessing plants 
of easiest culture; perfectly hardy. 
treatment. 
They will establish themselves in almost any garden soil, but respond quickly to liberal 
Mrs. Ely, the author of ‘‘A Woman’s Hardy Garden,’’ writes for us in regard to them as follows :— 
“« Perennial Larkspur may be planted early in October or as soon as the spring has opened. 
The ground should be well drained and carefully prepared, but manure must not be allowed to come in contact with the 
roots, or grubs are apt to destroy the plants. 
A little finely-ground bone meal dug around each plant early in May will be 
of benefit, and in late autumn coal-ashes should be sifted over the crowns of the plants to protect them from the white grub, 
which is their only enemy. 
Larkspurs have been so developed that there are now many shades of blue in both tall and low-growing varieties. 
The stalks being very tender, the plants should he staked when they are about three feet high, to protect them frcm 
heavy wind, which otherwise would be likely to quite destroy them. 
Larkspur begins to bloom about June 20th, and by cutting off the plants close to the ground, as soon as each crop of 
flowers has faded, a second and third crop of flowers will succeed. 
Each time the plants are cut a little bone meal should be dug about them.”’ 
Mr. W. C. Egan, the well-known amateur and a great admirer of Delphiniums, writes us as under :— 
‘‘ There is no hardy perennial more easily raised and grown than the Delphinium. 
If given these, it will fill your heart with joy and gladness in the 
worked, rich soil, with plenty of water during dry spells. 
richness and profuseness of bloom. 
It revels in full sunshine and a deeply 
From the marvellous Delphinium Belladonna—the loveliest of dwarf blues—a large bed of which caused a lady to remark : 
‘It looks as if a bit of the sky had dropped down and settled there,’ through the finely cut foliaged Chinense group, to the 
tall and stately Gold Medal Hybrids, all are good. 
After their bloom is over, cut them quite close to the ground, and new foliage and some blooms will result. 
This defect may be remedied by planting in front any bushy plant growing. 
groups ‘this procedure causes quite a ‘hole.”’ 
In large 
about three feet tall, such as Rudbeckia triloba, Aconitum autumnalis or Calimeris incisa,”’ 
We offer the following choice new and standard sorts: 
Bold, massive spikes of large, semi- 
Alfred Henderson. 
30 cts. each ; 
double, rosy-lavender flowers, with white eye. 
$3.00 per doz. 
Beatrice Kelway. Deep, rich blue, with a conspicuous yel- 
low eye; flower 2 inches across and perfectly arranged. 
85 cts. each; $3.50 per doz. 
Belladonna. The freest and most continuous blooming of all, 
never being out of flower from the end of June until cut down 
by hard frost. The clear turquoise-blue of its flowers is not 
equalled for delicacy and beauty by any other flower. (See 
illustration on plate opposite.) 25 cts. each; $2.50 per doz. ; 
$18.00 per 100. : 
Cerberus. Sapphire-blue, with a decided black and brown 
centre; large, double flower and very beautiful. 60 cts. each. 
Chinense. A very pretty variety, with fine feathery foliage 
and intense gentian-blue flowers in open panicles. 106 cts, 
each; $1.50 per doz.; $10.00 per 100. 
— Album. A pure white form of the above. 
$1.50 per doz.; $10.00 per 100. 
— Cineraria (Spurless Hardy Larkspur). Flowers of 
large size, of richest sky-blue, the individual flowers resem 
bling a Cineraria. 25 cts. each; $2.50 per doz. f 
Duke of Connaught. Rich Oxford-blue, with a bold, dis- 
tinct, white eye; fine large flowers. 35 cts. each; $3.50 
per doz. i ; 
Formosum. The old favorite dark blue with white centre; 3 
to 4 feet high. Very vigorous, free-flowering, and one of the 
best. 15 cts. each; $1.50 per doz.; $8.00 per 100. 
Gold Medal Hybrids. Unquestionably the finest strain of 
mixed hybrids ever offered. The original stock came from 
England, and consisted of the best-named varieties. The 
plants are of strong, vigorous habit, with large flowers in 
spikes two feet and over long, the majority running in the 
lighter shades of blue. (See illustration on plate opposite. ) 
15 cts. each; $1.50 per doz.; $10.00 per 100. 
15 cts. each; 
J. C. Jenkins. 
mauve, edged royal blue and white eye. 
per doz. 
King of Delphiniums. One of the finest yet introduced; the 
plant is of remarkably strong, vigorous growth, with flowers of 
gigantic size, semi-double, and of a deep blue color, with 
large white eye. 35 cts. each; $3.50 per doz. 
Lemartin. Similar in habit of growth to Belladonna, but 
with rich gentian-blue flowers with white centre; very dis- 
tinct and handsome. 40 cts. each; $4.00 per doz. 
Lizzie. Lovely azure-blue flowers, 2 inches across, with bold, 
creamy-yellow eye; flowers beautifully arranged on the spike, 
which is very massive. 40 cts. each; $4.00 per doz. 
Mrs. Creighton. Semi-double flowers, the outer petals sky- 
blue, centre rich plum, with black eye. 35 cts. each; $3.50 
per doz. 
Persimmon. A comparatively new variety, of strong, vigor- 
ous growth, producing massive branching spikes of very large, 
widely expanded flowers of a delicate turquoise-blue. 60 cts. 
each; $6.00 per doz. 
Polar Star. The best white variety yet introduced; similar in 
habit to Belladonna, being very free-flowering; a decided ac- 
quisition. 75 cts. each. 
Very large semi-double flowers of bright 
39 cts. each; $3.50 
Sulphureum (Zalil). An attractive and entirely distinct 
species, forming pyramidal bushes about 4 feet high of stiff, 
wiry stems, covered during June and July with pure sulphur- 
yellow flowers. 25 cts. each; $2.50 per doz. 
White Seedlings. These have been very carefully selected, 
and will be found a desirable addition to the collection. 40 
cts. each; $4.00 per doz. ; 
Yvette Gilbert. Transparent light blue, with a rosy-pink 
stripe through each petal; white eye; large individual flowers. 
40 cts. each; $4.00 per doz. 
Collection of one each of the above 20 grand sorts for $6.00, or three each of the 20 sorts tor $15.00. 
WE OFFER SEEDS OF SOME OF THE NEWER DELPHINIUMS. See Flower Seed Novelties, pages 54 to 62. 
