Delphinium.

Propagation And Culture

The annual sorts and varieties are sown annually in September or October, or early in spring, in patches where the plants are to flower - for they do not succeed by transplantation - observing, that those of the autumn sowing grow stronger, flower earlier, and the flowers are generally larger and more durable than the spring-sown plants. It is, however, proper to sow some in spring, in February or March, to continue a longer succession of bloom.

"Dig with a trowel small patches, about nine inches diameter, in different parts of the borders towards the middle, as also in the fronts of the shrubbery clumps; and in each such patch sow eight, ten, or twelve seeds a quarter of an inch deep; and when the plants are an inch or two high, thin those of the unbranched sorts to about six or eight in each patch, and of the branched kinds to three or four in each place, which is all the culture they require. But when intended to show in beds by themselves, they are commonly sown in drills, forming them lengthwise, the beds a foot asunder, and half an inch deep. The unbranched kinds are the best adapted for this mode of culture.

"The perennial sorts are also raised plentifully from seeds sown in autumn or spring, in a bed or border of common earth, for transplantation when the plants come up. Hand-weed them occasionally, and thin them to three or four inches distance, to remain till October or November; then plant them out where they are to remain to flower.

Their roots will endure many years." - Abercrombie.