42 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
leaves and numerous erect stems, terminating with three to five 
flowers, of a pleasing shade of soft light blue. 
D. Pylzowi is another beautiful species with large deep-blue flowers 
on slender stems, and so dwarf in habit as to associate with some of 
the choicest of the rock-garden plants. 
Annual Larkspurs. — In these hardy annuals we have a great 
wealth of beauty and an unusually wide range of colour. They are 
also very varied in their habits. Their cultivation is simplicity itself. 
They can be sown any time after February. They can also be sown 
during September and October, but if autumn sowing is adopted care 
should be taken to protect the seedlings from slugs &c, and this can 
easily be achieved by covering the seed patch with fine ashes. 
I do not advocate transplanting. I find they do very much better 
if sown in their permanent quarters and carefully thinned out when 
the plants are large enough to handle. They are not at all fastidious 
as to soil or situation. They will thrive in the driest possible position, 
and charming effects can be cheaply produced by judicious planting 
of these charming annuals, grouped between shrubs, in the herbaceous 
borders, or even on the rockery. They are at their best during July 
and August. 
The species that have given rise to these attractive annuals are 
D. A j acts and D. consolida. 
The rocket Larkspur, D. Ajacis, is the most varied, and has 
been arranged in three groups. The tall rocket Larkspur, D. Ajacis 
major, has stout well-arranged spikes growing 3 to 4 feet high, 
bearing myriads of single and double flowers, white, pink, rose, violet, 
blue and intermediate shades, and is the best variety for general 
border decoration. The dwarf rocket Larkspur, D. Ajacis minus, is 
particularly neat in appearance, growing 18 to 24 inches high, has 
well-set spikes of double flowers ranging from white to deep rose, and 
is admirably adapted for planting in the front rows of the border. 
The Hyacinth-flowered Larkspur, D. Ajacis hyacinthiflorum, is 
admirably adapted for pot cultivation, has a dwarf sturdy habit 
pretty tapering spikes of clear-coloured flowers, in general appearance 
reminding one of a well-grown hyacinth. 
D. consolida, the branching Larkspur, is quite distinct from the 
preceding and equally as valuable from a gardening point of view, 
seeing that it is later, considerably prolonging the flowering season, 
with tall branching stems, smothered with medium-sized flowers, 
in richest shades of violet, purple, white, and pink. 
D. consolida imperialis, or ' Emperor ' Larkspur, is particularly 
valuable on account of its dwarf habit, forming neat symmetrical 
bushes 18 to 20 inches high, 2 J to 3 feet in circumference, covered 
with full double flowers for a considerable period. 
