iSyo.] BEDDING LOBELIAS. 203 



it is not an easy matter to keep young vigorous trees -within such 

 bounds, without using the knife more freely than is really good for 

 them. James M'Millan. 



{To be continued.) 



BEDDING LOBELIAS. 



It will be some time hence when the bedding Lobelias will be dis- 

 carded from the flower-garden. Their dwarf growth, and their ability 

 to stand severe drought and a hot burning sun, combined with their 

 free and continuous blooming properties, make them so useful that, 

 were they abandoned, but little could be found so well adapted to 

 take their place. I am so much an admirer of the Lobelia as a bed- 

 ding plant, that I have made a trial of several of the leading varieties 

 with a view of ascertaining which of them are best adapted for bedding 

 purposes, and I now proceed to notice the several kinds subjected to 

 such trial. 



Of pure white Lobelias, I have met with but two really of this 

 colour. I may state that I have seen two or three termed L. speciosa 

 alba, but neither pure white, as the flowers have invariably come 

 slightly edged or tinted with blue. Of the two white varieties re- 

 ferred to, one, named Miss Murphy, belonging to the pumila or dwarf- 

 tufted section, I have entirely discarded, as being altogether worthless 

 for outdoor purposes. Used as an edging in a cool conservatory, it 

 may prove useful ; but I have always failed to make it of any service 

 in the flower-garden, except to denote its claim to be on the list of 

 " plants to avoid." My second white — viz., Queen of "Whites — is much 

 superior, though by no means perfect as a white-flowering bedding 

 Lobelia. It has the L. speciosa habit of growth, hardihood, and gen- 

 eral good qualities, but the flowers, though plentifully enough pro- 

 duced, are small in size, which detracts from its effectiveness. It is, 

 however, the best pure white bedding Lobelia we have, and I mean 

 to use it till a better one takes its place. 



Lobelias with lilac or pink flowers are now becoming somewhat 

 plentiful, and give us new and attractive colours in this useful class 

 of bedding plants. One of the very best is Rosy Moon, which pro- 

 duces rosy-pink flowers having a small white centre, as large as those 

 of the ordinary type of L. speciosa, and a capital habit. Rosy 

 Gem is similar in character, but has the addition of some purplish 

 crimson spots on the upper part of the flower, and, though attractive, 

 is to my mind scarcely so good a bedder as the first named. The pumila 



