THE FLORAL WOULD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 123 



kept carefully and loosely tied as they advance, for, if neglected, one 

 small storm may tear the plantation to pieces. To propagate the 

 named sorts, take cuttings from the base of the plants in August, 

 and pot them, and, if possible, promote quick rooting by placing 

 them on a gentle bottom-heat. They must be repotted into separate 

 pots, at least five inches in diameter, in October, and placed in a 

 cold frame or greenhouse for the winter. Good seed will produce 

 good plants, and therefore a stock may be got quickly by the most 

 trifling cost. If the seed is sown in February in a gentle heat, and 

 grown on with careful regard to the fact that the plant is hardy and 

 cannot well endure a strong heat, the seedlings may be planted out 

 in May, and will bloom well the same season. Those who cannot 

 manage them in this way had better sow seed in July ; and as soon 

 as the plants are large enough to handle, plant them out in a bed of 

 s andy soil, in a frame where they may remain until the time arrives 

 for planting out in the following spring. 



THE CULTIVATION" OF LOBELIA. 



|HE best method to obtain a good stock of Lobelia, is to 

 raise the plants from cuttings, selecting for the purpose 

 the best varieties obtainable. In the first place, plant 

 out a few of the selected sorts, at the end of May, in 

 some out of the way place and let them grow and 

 flower as they like. About the middle of July cut them down 

 pretty close to the ground, and they will soon after bristle with new 

 tender shoots. These must not be allowed to flower, but as soon as 

 they have attained a length of about two inches, take them off and 

 dibble them into a bed of sandy soil, in a frame or under hand lights or 

 propagating boxes, keeping them shaded and sprinkled until they 

 have made roots. If they run up quickly to flower, nip out the 

 flower-buds to keep them stocky and strong. Take them up early 

 and pot carefully, keeping them near the glass all the winter, never 

 allowing them to flower. In February these will supply cuttings in 

 great quantity, and any one who can strike a cutting may make a 

 good plant of every one of them. To raise Lobelia from seed is a 

 still simpler matter, and if the seed has been carefully saved, the 

 plants will be tolerably uniform in character, and will be good 

 enough for large gardens, wh j re a few spurious plants in a mass will 

 not be noticed ; but seedlings are not to be depended on for highly 

 finished work. Sow the seed in pans or boxes of fine rich sandy 

 soil, covering it with a mere dust of peat or finely sifted leaf-mould. 

 The seed need not be sown until March, as the plants grow rapidly 

 when they have made a start. Lobelias should not be planted out in 

 flower, or with the flower-buds visible. It is best to cut the tops off 

 the jdantB a week before planting, which will promote a bushy 

 growth, and prepare them to throw out roots vigorously when 

 planted. If planted in flower, they may be expected soon after to 

 go out of flower and remain blank for a month. If treated as here 

 advised, they will be blank for about a fortnight at first, and will 



April. 



