222 Encyclopaedia of Gardening 



Libonia (libo-nia, after M. Libon. Ord. Acanthaceae) . A useful 

 hothouse genus, flowering in winter. They thrive in loam with a 

 third of leaf mould and some sand. Propagation is by cuttings 

 beneath a bell-glass in spring. Floribunda, 2 ft. high, yellow, is 

 the popular species. 



Lichens. When present, with mosses, on fruit trees the lichens 

 are out of place. They are less common on trees growing in well- 

 drained soil than on those in damp ground. Old orchard trees are 

 often badly infested. The bark can be cleaned by spraying the 

 trees in winter with i Ib. of caustic soda and i Ib. commercial 

 potash, each mixed separately in tubs containing 5 gallons of 

 water, then mixing. Gloves should be worn. 



Ligustrum, Privet (ligus-trum, from ligulare, to tie, the shoots 

 being sometimes used for tying. Ord. Oleaceae). The popular 

 evergreen hedge plant is Ligustrum ovalifolium (see Hedges). 

 The genus is a large one, but of little importance save for the Privet. 



Lilac, Syringa (syrm-ga, from the Persian Syrinx. Ord. Oleaceae) . 

 The common Lilac is one of the best of small flowering trees, and 

 every lover of this fragrant old favourite should try to add a few 

 selected varieties to his shrubbery. There are several which have 

 finer flowers than the common Lilac, while retaining its fragrance. 

 Of such are 



Charles X., lilac 



"Madame Lemoine, double white 



Marie Legraye, white 



Rubra de Marly, red 

 Souvenir de Louis Spath, deep 

 lilac 



These may be planted in autumn or spring, preferably in deep, 

 loamy soil, but they are not fastidious so long as the soil is not 

 downright poor. Lilacs are also grown in pots for forcing into 

 -early bloom, and for this purpose the variety Charles X. is much 

 used. Small plants may be potted up into 7-in. or 8-in. in autumn, 

 In a compost of loam and leaf mould. Propagation is by cuttings 

 .and grafting. Persica is the Persian and vulgaris the common Lilac. 



Lilium, Lily (Hl-ium, from li (Celtic), white. Ord. Liliaceae). See 

 Bulbs. 



Lily of the Valley. See Bulbs and Convallaria. 



Lime. Very useful in gardens, although a shallow limestone soil 

 is by no means the best which might be chosen for gardening. 

 Limestone and chalk are carbonates of lime; when they are sub- 

 jected to great heat in a kiln a great deal of carbonic acid is driven 

 'off, and we get what is called quicklime. If this is placed in water 

 it crumbles to a powder, giving off heat. In such a state it is easy 

 of application. It may be applied at the rate of 28 Ib. per square 

 rod to land that has been heavily manured for several years, and 

 will do good by neutralising the humic acid which has accumu- 

 lated, and which checks decomposition and nitrification. It should 

 not be applied to ground devoid of humus. Milk of lime is used in 

 -conjunction with copper sulphate as a fungicide (see Bordeaux Mix- 

 ture). Fresh powdered quicklime may be dusted over the ground 

 at night to kill slugs. Gas-lime may be used at the rate of 14 Ib. 



