DELPHINIUM, Nat. Ord. RanuncMlacece. 
The perennial Delphiniums, commonly known as Larkspurs, are valuable plants, the foliage 
clean and pretty, habit strong and good, the flowering branches 
often four feet in height, the spikes of flowers six 
inches or more in length, and generally compact. 
The prevailing color is blue, and of the most 
intense character imaginable. Some varieties 
very light, azure blue, others of the darkest in- 
digo shades. White and pink sorts are prized 
by some, but none are so gorgeous as the bright 
blues. Sow the seed in the spring, and very 
strong plants will be produced by autumn, that 
flower the next spring. Transplant from the 
seed-bed early in the fall. Roots of old 
plants may be divided either in the spring or 
autumn, and thus after good plants are once pro- 
cured, they may be increased nidehnite.y. Ihe name Larkspur is given on account of the spur, 
which resembles the spur of a bird, and forms a prominent feature in the flowers of this family. 
DIGITALIS, (Foxglove,) Nat. Ord. ScrophulariacecB. 
The Digitalis is a stately plant, when well grown, with flower-stems at least three feet in 
height. The raceme of flowers is at the extremity of the stem, several 
score of them, and all drooping on one side, and sometimes covering 
more than half its length, as may be seen in the small engraving. The 
flowers are of an irregular bell shape, and the 
engraving shows a flower of full size, marked in the 
interior with circular dark spots which are inter- 
spersed among a number of delicate, light colored 
hairs. There are several varieties, differing some- 
what in form and color, but we have shown the 
general form, and the colors are white and different 
shades of purple. The Digitalis is a native of 
Europe, and the old variety, D. purpurea, may be 
found on the sides of almost any of the shady 
country lanes of England. The Digitalis is used 
in medicine. Its common name is Foxglove. Per- 
fectly hardy, and seeds may be sown in the spring, 
in the garden, and transplanted as desired. In the 
autumn large plants can be divided, and thus 
plants may be increased indefinitely, but it is well 
to secure a few fresh plants from seed occasionally, as is in this way only new colors and varie- 
ties are obtained. 
HEDYSARUM, (French Honeysuckle,) Nat. Ord. Leguminosce. 
Pretty much all the species of this genus are handsome flowering plants, producing racemes 
of attractive, pea-formed flowers, H. coronarium is the best, and there is a 
scarlet and a white variety. Stiange to say, this Hedysarum is called 
in England and America the French Honeysuckle, though it orig- 
inated in Italy, and not in France, and bears no kind of resemblance to the 
Honeysuckle, but more resembles clover, and as the children suck the tubes 
of clover flowers and call them honeysuckles, perhaps this accounts for the 
name. It is used in the South of Europe as green feed for cattle. It bears 
some resemblance to the Scarlet Clover, but is a much bolder and hand- 
somer flower, and really a most desirable Perennial. Every one who 
secures a few plants will be highly pleased with the investment. Perfectly hardy, and seed may 
be sown in the open ground. 
102 
