1*76 ON THE CULTURE OF LOBELIAS. 



give liberty to the young plants to pass easily through ; this operation 

 should be very carefully performed to prevent breaking off the fibres, 

 or raising and leaving any of the plants out of the earth, because one 

 hour's sun upon such would certainly destroy them. 



After the plants are all up, and their two interior leaves appear, 

 more air must be given, by having hurdles or lattice work substituted 

 for the glasses; watering must be regularly continued in the manner 

 before described, when the long continuance of dry weather renders it 

 necessary; but fine warm showers of rain are always preferable when 

 they happen in due time. 



This kind of management is to be continued till the roots are ma- 

 tured, and fit to take up, which is known by the foliage becoming 

 brown, dry, and nearly consumed. The roots are to be dried and 

 preserved in the usual way, and to be planted the same time as large 

 ones in the autumn ; the greater part, or such as have two or more 

 claws, will blow in tolerable perfection the following summer. 



ARTICLE VII. 



ON THE CULTURE OF LOBELIAS. 



BY AN AMATEUR FLOUIST. 



The genus Lobelia comprises plants of much interest to an admirer 

 of flowers : some of them exhibiting blossoms strikingly elegant, 

 brilliant, and beautiful, and of a commanding figure in stature ; 

 whilst others, more humble in growth, are equally pretty and pleas- 

 ing. In the former class, the plant rears up its splended spike of the 

 richest possible hue ; the other, in prostrate beauty, displays a carpet 

 of simple, yet engaging elegance. 



Thinking a few hints on the culture of a number of the Lobelias 

 would be acceptable to the readers of the Cabinet, induced me to 

 draw up the remarks here transmitted for insertion therein. 



The Lobelia was so named by that eminent French botanist Father 

 Plumier (who discovered the first species of it in America), in 

 honour of Dr. Lobel, a learned botanist, who published the figures of 

 a great number of plants at Antwerp, in 1581, and two or three other 

 gardening books before that time. The genus is now ranked in the 

 class Pentandria, and order Monogynia, although formerly classed in 



