HWAPRIER JHIlADELPhlAlA- W HARDY PJUjAL PbAMTS • iflfl 189 



DELPHINIUM (Hardy Larkspur). 



These are deservedly one of the most popular subjects in the 

 hardy border, bold, attractive and highly prepossessing plants of 

 easiest culture; perfectly hardy. They will establish themselves 

 in almost any garden soil, but respond quickly to liberal treat- 

 ment. 



Mrs. H. Rutherfurd Ely, 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 be staked 

 when they are about three feet high, to protect them from 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. It revels in full sunshine and a deeply- 

 worked rich soil, with plenty of water during dry spells. If 

 given these, it will fill your heart with joy and gladness in the 

 richness and profuseness of bloom. 



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. In large groups 

 this procedure causes quite a "hole" This defect maybe 



Delphinium (Hahdy Larkspur 



remedied by planting in front any bushy plant growing about three feet tall, such as Rudbeckia triloba, Aconitum autumnalis or 

 Calimeris incisa. " 



TEN RARE HYBRID HARDY LARKSPURS. 



Albion. A grand acquisition with large, semi-double, white 

 flowers, in massive spikes on stems four to five feet high. 50 

 cts. each. 



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. 25 cts. 

 each; §2.50 per doz. ; §15.00 per 100. 



Chinense Cineraria (Spurless Hardy Larkspur). Flow- 

 ers of large size, of richest sky-blue, the individual flowers 

 resembling a Cineraria. 20 cts. each; §2.00 per doz. 



Florence. A good, medium-sized flower, Cambridge blue 

 with opalescent, rosy-mauve centre. 25 cts. each; §2.50 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. 25 cts. each; §2.50 per doz. 



Kaiserln Augusta Victoria. A large-flowering, semi- 

 double, glistening sky-blue, produced on fine long spikes. 30' 

 cts. each; §3.00 per doz. 



firs. Creighton. Semi-double flowers, the outer petals sky- 

 blue, centre rich plum, with black eye. 30 cts. each; §3.00- 

 per doz. 



Mrs. Thompson. Long, erect spikes of clear blue flowers 

 with white centre; a free and continuous bloomer. .30 cts. 

 each; §3.00 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. 



W. Storr. A handsome, semi-double,- light blue variety, with 

 large reddish-mauve centre; very distinct. 30 cts. each; §3.00' 

 per doz. 



One each of the above ten rare sorts for §3.00. 



SELECT STANDARD 



Chinense. A very pretty variety, with fine feathery foliage 

 and intense gentian-blue flowers in open panicles. 



■ — Album. A pure white form of the above. 



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. 

 Price. Standard sorts, except where noted, 15 cts. each; §1.. 



varieties for §4.00. 



HARDY LARKSPURS. 



Formosum. The old favorite dark blue with white centre; 3 

 to 4 feet high. Very vigorous, free- flowering, and one of the 

 best. 



— Coelestinum. A beautiful light blue form of the preced- 

 ing. 



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. 

 50 per doz.; §10.00 per 100. One each of entire collection of 16» 



We offer seeds of some of the Newer Delphiniums. See Flower Seed Novelties, pages 54 to 62. 



