HARDY FLOWERS. 



89 



desired, there the 

 perennial Larkspurs 

 are welcome. In 

 raising seed sow it 

 in April in shallow 

 pans under glass, 

 and prick off the 

 seedling 1 ;, when of 

 fair size, where they 

 are to remain. II 

 one has a scarce 

 variety and wishes 

 to increase it as 

 much as possible, 

 take cuttings of the 

 young shoots in 

 spring and place 

 them in a cold 

 frame. 



D. Belladonna is a 



beautiful variety. 

 It is not very robust, 

 but the flower spikes 

 are clear sky blue, a 

 bright sunny colour, 

 especially when a 

 group is formed, 

 thrown perhaps into 

 relief by a sombre- 

 coloured shrub, such 

 as the Yew. Few 

 plants are so quickly 

 spoilt by slugs as 

 this. If a close 

 watch is not kept 

 and the clumps 

 surrounded by coal 

 ashes there will be 

 lew flowers. 



D. grandiflorum 

 fl.-pl. (the Doubh 

 Siberian Larkspur). 

 — A beautiful 

 flower, perfectly 



double and rich blue, but so difficult to grow that lew cm 

 succeed with it. It seems most comfortable in warm 

 light soils. 



D. nildieaule is a bright scarlet flower, and one of the 



prettiest of the species. It is dwarl and hardy, enjoying 

 a warm, light soil. Avoid wet spots. It is easily rai.-ed 

 from seed, or may be divided, but it is not wise to 

 disturb healthy clumps. 



The deep blue D. Cashmerianum, D. cardinale (bright 

 scarlet), D. formosum, and the pretty yellow-flowered 

 Zalil should be on every good rock garden, but all 

 require light soil. 



DianthllS. — The Pink family is as precious as any to the 

 flower gardener, as in it are the Carnation and Pink, 

 which, are described fully under these names. D. 

 Caryophyllus is the species from which the Carnation 

 of g.irdens has been derived, and D. plumarius is the 

 origin of the Pink, whilst D. barbatus is the Sweet 

 William. But apart from these a host of flower gems 

 must be considered, Alpines for the most part, and 

 suitable therefore for the rock garden. 



D. alpinUS (Alpine Pink) is, like some others of the 

 family, not easy to manage. It must be coaxed into 

 good behaviour by providing leaf-soil or something akin 

 to it, and a cool, moist position, when it will spread 

 into deep green tufts, smothered in summer with rich 

 rose-coloured flowers. There are forms of ii, all 

 much alike, and all needing the same open, sunny 

 position and light, gritty soil. It may be increased 

 by seeds sown as soon as ripe in a shallow pan, well 

 drained and filled with light soil, or by division in 

 spring ; but healthy tufts should not be disturbed. 



D. Atkinsoni is a brilliant flower, deep crimson, 

 almost blood colour, and more straggling in growl h 



GKOUF OF DELPHINIUMS 



D 



than many kinds. 

 It blooms most 

 abundant I)', and for 

 this reason it is 

 well il there is any 

 likelihood of 

 collapse to pick off 

 the (lowers and pro- 

 mote growth for 

 cuttings, which 

 strike freely under 

 glass (a cold frame) 

 in the summer. 



D. barbatus (Sweet 



William). — This is 

 described under the 

 heading Sweet 

 William. 

 D. Caryophyllus. - 



The parent of the 

 garden Carnation 

 and a charming plant 

 for a wall. Manv 

 an old castle wall is 

 beautified with its 

 wiry growth. 

 D. CSesiUS (the Ched- 

 dar /'ink) is very 

 pretty in the rock 

 garden in a sunny 

 spot where the soil 

 is gritty — loam and 

 limestone, or even 

 bits of old mortar. 

 It is quite dwarl, 

 forming a mat of 

 small leaves, which 

 are almost hidden 

 in early summer with 

 sweetly-scented rosy 

 flowers. This 

 charming plant is 

 delightful, too, on 

 old walls, and the 

 best way to thus establish it is to sow seeds in the 

 chinks. Division of the tufts will give increased stock, 

 and seeds are easily raised in a shallow pan put into a 

 cold frame. 



CalliZOllUS is a lovely species, not so familiar as 

 others, but so handsome that on every rock garden 

 it should he planted. The flowers are large for the 

 size of the plant, and of purplish rose colour. It 

 comes from Transylvania, and delights in warm, gritty soil 

 and a western aspect. Increased by cuttings in summer, 

 or by seeds, which are not so plentiful as in such species 

 as the Cheddar Pink. 

 D. negleetUS is a charming dwarf Pink, and very easily 

 grown, the flowers pure rose in colour and covering the 

 narrow grass-like leaves. It delights in a light, warm 

 soil fully exposed, and is a naiive of high Alpine 

 pastures. Seeds are easily raised, and the more vigorous 

 tufts may be divided. Those commencing the culture 

 of rock plants should not forget this, because it gives 

 little trouble and is very hardy. 



Other interesting species are D. cinnabarinus ; the 

 deep crimson D. cruentus, loamy soil mixed with sand- 

 stone ; D. Seguieri ; D. glacialis (Glacier Pink), crevice 

 in the rock garden, gritty soil with sandstone chips, 

 flowers rosy in colour ; D. g. gelidus, rosv purple ; 1). 

 Cyclops, a large pink flower with crimson centre ; 1 >. 

 petrrjeus, rose ; D. plumarius, parent of the gaiden 

 Pinks ; and the beautiful D. superbus, very fragrant, 

 rosy colour. Sow seeds frequently, as the plants are 

 short-lived. D. greivei is a rose and white hybrid. 

 D. Sinensis (the Chinese Pink) is an annual, and 



described amongst that class. 

 Dieentra (Dielytra). — To this family belongs the graceful 

 rosy-coloured Bleeding Heart, orLyre-flowerD. spectabilis. 



