8 
THE LADIES’ FLOWER-GARDEN 
many parts of Europe. It was brought to England in 1573 from Switzerland, and on this account it is 
frequently described in books as a native of that country. The specific name, Ajacis , is taken from some spots or 
streaks observable in the flower, which have been supposed to resemble the letters A. J. A., and to stand for 
Ajax. The legend is that when Ajax stabbed himself in a fit of frenzy, this flower sprang from his blood. 
Culture. —The rocket larkspur requires a very rich soil to bring it to perfection; and, if possible, it should 
be fresh soil, that is, soil that has not been before used for flower-beds. As, however, it would be very expensive 
to renew all the soil in the beds or borders where the rocket larkspur is to be sown, an experienced gardener, 
eminent alike for his practical and scientific knowledge, who has been so kind as to give us his advice on the 
subject of culture, tells us, that the best way is “ to take rich soil—say turfy friable loam, with one half quite 
rotten dung, in a barrow or basket; and, with a light flower-border spade, to take out six inches or eight inches 
square of the common soil, and to the depth of at least twelve inches. The hole thus formed must be filled with 
the rich soil, the surface of which should be smoothed, and the seeds sown immediately. - ”— D. B. The seeds 
may be sown in the same manner as those of D. consolida ; or they may be sown in lines, a deep furrow being 
made with a planting-stick, and filled in with the compost, and the seeds sown on it. “ If you are fanciful,” 
says the same excellent gardener whom we have before quoted, “ you can level the surface of a bed, draw the 
initials of your name, or the full name, with a stick ; and, taking out the soil according to the shape of the 
letters, you can fill in the hollow with compost, and then sow the seeds. Or any other device may be executed 
with these plants, they are of such neat and symmetrical growth. For example, a rainbow might be formed of 
the double dwarf varieties, by arranging them according to their different colours.”— Idem. In all cases, and 
particularly when compost is used, the seeds should be carefully sheltered from heavy rains, either by a flower¬ 
pot, or in some other manner, as will be hereinafter directed. When the young plants come up, they should not 
be much thinned, as from the compact habit of the plants they require but little room ; and they should be seen 
in masses to produce an effect. They must always be sown where they are intended to remain, as they will not 
bear transplanting. This species will not require staking. The usual time for sowing is from the middle of March 
to April, in which case the plants will flower in July, and they should never be sown at any other season when 
compost is used; but grown in the common ground, they may be sown in autumn, and Rea tells us, that “ one 
of these winter plants is worth ten of those raised in spring, and will yield more good seed.”—( Reas Flora , 
Ceres , &c., p. 18 7-) Like all the llanunculacem , the seeds (which are black and rough) will keep good several 
years. The seeds of Delphinium consolida and D. Ajacis may be purchased in any seed-shop ; but those of 
D. tenuissimum can only be had from a botanic garden. 
OTHER SPECIES OF LARKSPUR. 
The following kinds have been introduced, but we do not know where they are in cultivation. Probably some 
of.the names may prove to be-synonymes, and some of the kinds only varieties of D. consolida. 
4. —D. OLIVERIANUM, Dec., 
has the stem erect, and not much branched ; the flowers are few, and hang loosely on longish pedicels ; they 
are very large, and of a bluish purple. The plant is a native of cultivated fields near Bagdad, and was 
introduced in 1825. 
