LOBELIA. 313 



not yet very rrencrally found their way into the 

 parterre, aUhough they arc sufficiently hardy to 

 stand the open garden, where they would contri- 

 bute much to the gaiety of Flora's garland by their 

 tall spikes of crimson flowers, which continue in 

 blossom from July to the end of September ; and 

 when they are cultivated with care, they assume a 

 degree of magnificence that is scarcely surpassed by 

 any other plant. 



Mr. W. Hedges has brought them to the higliest 

 state of perfection, having grown them from five to 

 six feet in height, with a stem six inches in circum- 

 ference, and each plant sending up sixteen or seven- 

 teen of these grand spikes of beautiful flowers. J. 

 Sabine, Esq., relates the manner of Mr. Hedges'* 

 successful mode of cultivating these plants, as fol- 

 lows : — " In October he takes off the suckers which 

 are thrown up from the roots of the old plants, 

 and puts them into small pots, one in each pot, ancj 

 keeps them in a cold frame till the middle of 

 January : he then removes them into a cucumbei; 

 frame, where the heat is kept up to sixty-five de- 

 grees of Fahrenheit's scale, by linings of hot duno*; 

 a pine succession stove of the same temperature 

 will equally suit them. In the middle of February, 

 they are shifted into pots a size larger ; and at the 

 end of March, or in the beginning of April, they 

 are again moved into larger pots, and in the middle 



VOL. II. i> 



