with deep violet, and the petals large, distinct, pure white, bifid, 
furnished near the base with a tuft of yellow hairs. Its most 
remarkable feature, taken in connection with the large size of 
its blossoms and its dense flower-spike, is the strong and effec¬ 
tive contrast between the pure white petals and the deep blue 
sepals; and it was in consideration of these peculiarities that 
the variety was considered deserving of commendation by the 
Floral Committee already referred to, the plant having been 
looked on as an improved form of a very handsome race of 
hardy herbaceous plants. Our figure is taken from Messrs. 
Fraser's specimens. 
Few plants are more desirable for large flower-beds or bor¬ 
ders of mixed herbaceous flowers than these comparatively 
dwarf large-flowered Bee Larkspurs. They all grow freely in 
rich loamy soil, which is the most congenial to them; and they 
prefer a situation where the subsoil is cool, and the earth not 
liable to become parched during the growth of the plant. In 
fat peaty soil they also grow with remarkable vigour ; but good 
rich garden soil, of a loamy and rather heavy texture, seems 
most congenial to them. They are propagated readily by divi¬ 
sion, in spring, after the young shoots have started in growth, 
and also readily by means of seeds, but the seedlings are more 
or less liable to variation. In the case of I). formosum , which 
is just now the most generally grown, the seedling plants, if 
raised early, in warmth, and encouraged by rich soil to make 
rapid progress, will flower the first year from the seed. 
