ON THE CULTURE OF LOBELIAS. 1 *7 7 



Syngenesia. The natural order is Lobeliaceae, very closely allied to 

 Campanulacese, from which their colour alone distinguishes them. 



Lobelia cardinalis and siphilitica are natives of Virginica ; fulgens 

 and splendens, natives of Mexica; to which must be added the follow- 

 ing hybrid productions raised in this country, viz., fulgens multiflora, 

 lateritia, refulgens, pyramidalis, Queen Victoria, grandis, Bathania, 

 Chalmeri, topaz, longiflora, longifolia, siphilitica alba, Altontowriensis, 

 Milleri, purpurea nigra, coccinea, coccinea superba, densiflora, den- 

 tata, and coerulea. These are upright growing kinds in the way of 

 L. fulgens ; they are most beautifully distinct in colours, and bloom- 

 ing from the beginning of June to the end of October, are exceedingly 

 valuable as ranking among the most striking ornaments either to 

 adorn the greenhouse or flower garden. Lobelia salicifolia, speciosa, 

 and Tupa, are handsome, but generally require the protection of a 

 greenhouse. 



All Lobelias are poisonous, though some have been used medi- 

 cinally, as Lobelia siphilitica ; hence its name. L. cardinalis is used 

 as an Anthelmintic, or destroyer of worms. L. inflatus, a very active 

 emetic, — I believe the most active known. L. Tupa yields a dan- 

 gerous poison ; the smell frequently causes headaches. L. longi- 

 flora is a most venomous plant ; when taken inwardly nothing can 

 stay its effects, and death is the sure consequence. I have inserted 

 these remarks, more closely allied to botany than other parts of gar- 

 dening, as a warning to any inexperienced persons (whom the 

 splendid colour of the flower might deceive), considering that the 

 names of all, and more especially such dangerous plants, cannot be 

 too fully pressed upon every one's memory. 



L. cardinalis and siphilitica can be propagated in the best manner 

 from seeds, which ripen well in this country. All the other sorts I 

 have named above can be propagated from seeds, offsets, and cuttings. 

 I take off the suckers in October, and put each one in a pot, protecting 

 them in a frame during the winter, forcing them gently on a dung- 

 hotbed, and shifting the plants into larger sized pots at various times as 

 they require it. The compost I use is made up of yellow loam and 

 u small quantity of leaf mould and sand mixed with it. The period 

 when they require this repotting is from February to May. At the 

 commencement of the latter month I remove them into a greenhou?e, 

 retaining such as I purpose for ornamenting the house during sum- 

 mer, and harden the others gradually to bear the full exposure of the 



Vol. XIII. No. 149. p 



