March 10,1900. 
THE GARDENING WOR1D 
443 
spikes of clear cobalt-blue sepals are veined with 
rose, while the centre is filled by small white petals. 
These flowers are borne on long spikes which give 
them a stately and majestic appearance. Delphini¬ 
ums take that position in the garden in early 
summer, which the Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum) 
and the Yellow Mulleins (Verbascum) assume later 
on, and might all be employed, that is, planted in 
lines and bold masses for effect in the garden and 
pleasure grounds. The illustration of D. Mrs. 
Rushton was supplied by Messrs. Kelway & Son. 
« » «■ 
KNIPHOFIA CAULESCENS. 
The term, Red Hot Poker, has not inaptly been 
applied to the Kuiphofias or Tritomas as they are 
variously termed, but applies more particularly to 
the widely cultivated K. aloides which constitutes 
such a brilliant feature of the garden when autumn 
is already upon us, K. caulescens flowers earlier in 
the season, and is very distinct in more ways than 
one. The flower stems are shorter than those cf 
K. aloides, and the same may be said of the flower 
spikes, which are more massive, and red while on 
the point of expansion ; but as soon as the indi¬ 
vidual and tubular flowers are fully developed they 
change to yellow, Thus the upper half of the spike 
would be red, and the lower half yellow, the con¬ 
trast of colour being strikingly conspicuous. The 
The plant itself is very robust in habit, and inclined 
to elevate its mass of leaves upon a short, stout stem, 
thus explaining the specific name. The leaves are 
very broad, thick, glaucous green, and quite distinct 
from the three-angled and narrow leaves of the 
better known species above mentioned. Messrs. 
Kelway & Son, Langport, Somerset, placed the 
accompanying illustration of K. caulescens at our 
service. The plants are here shown growing in the 
open. A few of them planted in prominent positions 
on the rockery are very effective; and the well 
drained condition of the soil of such sites is highly 
beneficial to the welfare of the plants in winter. 
■ » - 
HARDY TREES FOR HOME 
ADORNMENT. 
By way of lending variety to domestic adornment, 
much advantage can be taken of our hardy decidu- 
Copyright K, & S. 
Delphinium Mrs, Rushton. 
DELPHINIUM MRS. RUSHTON. 
The improvement that has been effected amongst the 
perennial Larkspurs can hardly be appreciated at 
their full value without going back to the compara¬ 
tively puny flowers of twenty or thirty years ago, 
/ r 
breeding and selection have brought to such great 
perfection as we are now able to witness at the 
leading exhibitions during the early summer months, 
say, May, June, and July. Amongst those who have 
been pre-eminent in this excellent work are Messrs. 
Kelway & Son, Langport, Somerset, as their magni- 
Copyright K, & S, 
Kniphofia caulescens, 
both the single and the double types. The old Del¬ 
phinium elatum received a great filip when florists 
began to hybridise it with D. formosum and D. 
grandiflorum. This greatly increased the size and 
beauty of the existing sorts, which persistent cross- 
ficent exhibits at the Temple Show, Drill Hall, and 
other places amply testify. Delphinium Mrs. 
Rushton is one of many with large flowers of lovely 
colours, many of which rival the Gentians, though 
the form of the flower is so different. The long 
ous trees, at very little expense. Palms and Ferns 
are, of course, indispensable, but why should 
deciduous subjects be ignored ? Several sorts, from 
their elegant foliage, suggest themselves, but none, 
so far as I am aware, can compare with the common- 
