LOBELIA. 131 



nalis. Its rich purple blossoms form a fine contrast with the 

 bright scarlet ones of the other varieties." The leaves like ful- 

 gens ; stem also pubescent. 



L. sipkilitica, the Blue Cardinal Flower, is a native of 

 Virginia, and introduced into England in 1665. " It has its 

 specific name from its supposed efficacy in the cure of the 

 syphilis, among the North American Indians. Sir William 

 Johnson purchased the secret from them, but Woodville says its 

 virtues have not been confirmed by any instance of European 

 practice." Stem erect, two feet high ; raceme leafy, with 

 flowers of a bright sky-blue. 



The treatment is the same for all those enumerated. I once 

 had them in great perfection, having a soil and situation well 

 adapted to their growth, with a little preparation. The soil, 

 naturally, was a black, heavy loam, upon a clay and gravel 

 subsoil, a little springy, and never very dry. On the spots 

 designed for their location, I threw four or five shovelfuls of 

 river-sand, and two of partly decomposed night-soil compost, 

 and had it thoroughly incorporated with the soil, for two feet 

 round, which made it quite light, and placed the plants in the 

 centre. They began to flower in July, and continued to throw 

 up vigorous stems, with an abundance of flowers, until October 

 Their growth was so luxuriant, that it was necessary to tie them 

 up to slender rods, stuck into the ground, a number of times, to 

 prevent them from being broken by the wind. Cardinalis and 

 fulgens were more than three feet high ; the others between 

 two and three feet. They may be easily propagated, by laying 

 the- stems in July and August, or dividing the roots in the 

 spring, or by seed. 



" Van Mons observes, that L. cardinalis perishes in sandy 

 soil, but becomes strong and multiplies in loam, while, at 

 the same time, it produces the most brilliant colors in the 

 former. 



" The same thing may doubtless be predicted of the other 

 species, it being a well-known law of nature, as to living 



