72 
BEAUTIFUL GARDEN FLOWERS. 
from seeds, or the old plants may be divided in spring 
when they become strong enough. Amongst the bine 
flowered perennial Larkspurs the following may be 
mentioned as worth a place : — Elatum, 4 to 6 feet 
high, shown on Plate 18, fig. 51 ; elegcius, 1 to 2 feet; 
formosum, 2 to 3 feet ; and grandifiorum and its many 
varieties, 1 to 3 feet high. 
For bold effect and freedom of blossom the finest 
Larkspurs are the hybrid forms which have been 
raised by the crossing and inter-crossing of the others 
just noted. (Plate 17, figs. 49, 50.) The masses of 
foliage alone form a graceful sight, but when the 
enormous spikes of brilliant blue or purple flowers 
shoot straight up to a height of 6 or 8 feet, they are 
simply gorgeous. The plants like a well-manured 
and deeply-dug soil. With plenty of moisture during 
the summer mouths, and a good top-dressing of manure 
in winter, they may be left in bold clumps for three or 
four years without disturbance. After this the root- 
stocks may be divided and replanted in fresh soil. The 
Hybrid Delphiniums are also easily raised from seeds. 
DIANTHUS barbatus ( Sweet William ). — The wild 
type was introduced from Central Europe more than 
300 years ago. The garden forms are almost 
innumerable, but the “ Auricula-eyed,” “ Smooth- 
edged ” and “ Selfs ” form three distinct and fairly- 
well defined groups that may be regarded as the acme 
of perfection from the florist’s point of view. Seeds 
of the best strains may be sown in spring, the young 
plants being afterwards pricked out in light rich soil, 
and grown on until September. They may then be 
transplanted to flower the following season. 
