86 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 



of old plants is resorted to only for the purpose of 

 supplying cuttings in spring 1 , annual renewals of the 

 plants being absolutely needful if a free growth and 

 an abundant bloom be desired. A quick way of making 

 stock is to tear the plants to pieces in the autumn, and 

 pot the little rooted tufts in sandy soil and store them 

 away in a greenhouse or pit. The section known as 

 "pumila," consisting of very dwarf cushion-like plants, 

 may be very well propagated by this method, but the more 

 wiry ones, such as ramosa and elegans, are best grown 

 from cuttings. They may all be most easily grown from 

 seeds sown in pans in February or March, and afterwards 

 pricked out to become strong in time for bedding, or the 

 seed may be sown in April where the plants are to 

 remain to flower, and if thinned in good time the plants 

 will do very well, although/ of course, they will flower 

 somewhat late. 



All the Ipbelias, including the grand " cardinalis " 

 section, require a deep, rich, moist soil, and therefore, if 

 the soil of the garden is dry and poor, plenty of leaf- 

 mould, rotten turf, and old. hotbed manure should be 

 dug in where the lobelias are to be planted. None of 

 them are quite hardy, but none of them are particularly 

 tender, therefore moderate protection in a cool house or 

 pit will in general suffice for their preservation during 

 winter, but long-continued frosts will certainly prove 

 fatal to them. As they are a thirsty lot, an overdose 

 of water at any time will scarcely trouble them ; and if, 

 amongst the arrangements for bedding plants, any house 

 or pit proves too damp for geraniums, it will probably 

 happen that lobelias may be wintered there with perfect 

 safety. 



