224 Encyclopaedia of Gardening 



leaf mould and a good deal of sand. Propagation is by cuttings in 

 a warm house or frame in spring. See the Botanical Magazine, 

 t. 367, as Aloysia citriodora, which is one of the synonyms; Verbena 

 triphylla is another. 



Liquid Manure. See Manure. 



Liriodendron tulipifera, Tulip Tree (lirioden-dron, from lirion, 

 Lily, and dendron, tree. Ord. Magnoliaceae) . A handsome, hardy, 

 spreading tree, which produces abundance of large, Tulip-like, 

 green and yellow flowers in summer when some years old. It is a 

 fine tree for a large lawn or extensive pleasure grounds. A loamy 

 soil, lightened with peat, suits it best. Propagation is by seeds in 

 spring. 



Lithospermum, Gromwell (lithosper-mum, from lithos, a stone, 

 and sperma, seed. Ord. Boragineae). The species prostratum is a 

 good dwarf creeping shrub, suitable for the rock garden, and 

 yielding a profusion of bright blue flowers. It is not particular as 

 to soil, and will thrive on limestone. Propagation is by seeds, 

 cuttings, and division in spring. Graminifolium, blue flowers in 

 spring, is a good Alpine. Heavenly Blue is very pretty. 



Livistona (livisto-na, after Mr. Murray of Liviston. Ord. Palmae). 

 Handsome fan-leaved palms, the most popular species of which 

 is australis. It likes a warm greenhouse, but with care may be 

 grown in a room. Chinensis is the palm often grown under the 

 name of Latania borbonica. For culture, see Palms. 



Loam. The frequent mention of this as the principal ingredient 

 in composts would lead to the supposition that it is important to 

 plants. Such is indeed the case. The " fibrous loam " of the 

 gardener is the result of the decay of turves. The better the 

 pasture the better the loam. The turf should be stacked grass side 

 downwards and left for a year, when it should be chopped up and 

 used. The layer of soil immediately beneath the turf of a good 

 meadow is also good for potting loam, if yellow or light brown, but 

 the grey soil from limestone or the dark soil from clay is not good 

 enough. Loam is the best body soil for a garden, as when tilled 

 and manured it suits nearly all plants. See also Soil. 



Lobelia (lobe-lia, after M. Lobel. Ord. Campanulaceae). A 

 most useful genus, giving, as it does, dwarf bedding and tall herba- 

 ceous plants. L. erinus is the little, dense, tender, blue-flowered 

 plant so much used for margins, and it may be grown as a half- 

 hardy annual, being raised from seed in a warm house or frame in 

 winter. Afterwards it may be perpetuated by cuttings, taken in 

 winter from " stock " plants lifted in autumn, potted, and wintered 

 on the shelf of a warm house. Barnard's Perpetual and Emperor 

 William are good single blue forms; and White Gem and White 

 Lady good whites. Prima Donna is reddish. Ramosa and its 

 varieties, blue, white, and rose, are taller, and are often grown in 

 pots. L. cardinalis is a hardy herbaceous perennial, growing about 

 3 ft. high, with scarlet flowers in summer. Fulgens is also a fine 

 scarlet perennial, blooming somewhat earlier ; there are many varie- 

 ties of it, differing in colour. Queen Victoria, scarlet; Lord Ardi- 



