Encyclopaedia of Gardening 221 



Leek. See Kitchen Garden. 



Legumes or Leguminous Crops. Pod-bearers. See Peas, etc., 

 under Kitchen Garden. 



Lent Lily. See Bulbs Daffodils. 



Leontopodium. See Edelweiss and Flower Garden Rockery. 



Leopard's Bane. See Doronicum and Flower Garden. 



Leptosiphon (leptosi-phon, from leptos, slender, and siphon, tube. 

 Ord. Polemoniaceae). Charming hardy annuals. Densiflorus and 

 its white variety are particularly good. For culture, see Annuals. 

 Modern botanists refer the genus to Gilia, but it is kept separate in 

 gardens. 



Lettuce. See Kitchen Garden. 



Leucojum, Snowflake (leuco-jum, from leukos, white, and ion,. 

 violet literally, the white Violet, in reference to the purity and 

 perfume. Ord. Amaryllideae) . See Bulbs. 



Lewisia (lewis-ia, after Captain Lewis. Ord. Portulaceae) . 

 Hardy plants, suitable for the rockery, and thriving in dry, sunny 

 spots if given a compost of loam, leaf mould, and sand. They are 

 propagated by division or seeds in spring. L. rediviva is a very 

 interesting plant, growing about 4 ins. high, and with rose flowers 

 in summer. Tweedyi has pink flowers in August. 



Leycesteria (leycester-ia, after Mr. W. Leysser. Ord. Capri- 

 foliaceae). Hardy shrubs. Formosa is the only species grown. 

 It produces its purple and white flowers in summer, is not particular 

 as to soil, and may be propagated by cuttings of ripe wood in 

 autumn or young wood in spring, under a bell-glass (see the 

 Botanical Magazine, t. 3699). There is a variegated form. 



Liatris, Blazing Star (lia-tris. Ord. Compositae). Hardy herba- 

 ceous plants, thriving in light soil, and propagated by division in 

 spring, or by seeds in a greenhouse or frame. Pycnostachya is the 

 most popular species; it grows about 4 ft. high, and bears purple 

 flowers on long spikes in late summer. Spicata, purple, is also 

 grown. 



Libertia (liber-tia, after Madame Libert. Ord. Iridae). Useful 

 plants for the border or rockery, flowering late in spring. They 

 like light, friable soil, and a covering of litter or ashes in winter. 

 Propagation is by division or seeds in spring. Formosa, \\ ft.; 

 grandiflora, 3 ft.; and ixioides, 3 ft., all with white flowers in late 

 spring or early summer, are good. Paniculata, i-J- ft., also with 

 white flowers, is pretty, but more tender (see the Botanical 

 Magazine, t. 6263). 



Libocedrus (liboce-drus, from libanos, incense, and cedrus, cedar 

 literally, the incense-scented Cedar. Ord. Coniferae). A small 

 genus of evergreen conifers, the most popular species of which is 

 decurrens, a tall, slender, and beautiful tree. It likes a well-drained, 

 loamy soil. Propagation is by seeds, sown when ripe in a green- 

 house or frame; and by cuttings in summer. Aureo-variegata,. 

 yellow leaves; and compacta glauca are varieties. 



