Loiseleuria 



(29 ) 



Lomaria 



LOISELEURIA. 



A ininiiiturc hardy procumbent shrub (ord. Erica- 

 ceae), with small, dark green, leathery leaves, and 

 small pink or rose flowers. Propagation, by division 

 of the pieces, or by taking off rooted shoots. Soil, 

 moist sandy peat. As it grows on the exposed 



LoMUUA DISCOLOK FALCATA (** J>. 30). 



tops of mountains, the plant should be planted in a 

 peat bed on the rockery, fully exposed to light and 

 air, and plentifully supplied with moisture. 



Only Species : 



procumbens, 2" to 3", My., Je., hdy., pk. or ro. 

 . Azalea procumbens). 



LOLIUM. 



A genus of annual, biennial, and perennial 

 Grasses (ord. Gramineae), a few of which are 

 extensively used for temporary and permanent 

 pastures as well as for hay making. In the garden, 

 pleasure ground, or park, the common or perennial 

 Kyegrass (perenne) always forms a component 

 part of the turf ; and the more nearly the soil 

 approaches the nature of rich, moist, meadow land, 

 so will the Kyegrass predominate. Being per- 

 ennial, and of a rich green, it is well adapted for 

 the purpose. It has about twenty-nine synonyms 

 and several varieties, all indicating its wide utility. 

 It is always propagated by seeds. Where the soil 

 is dry and poor, its place in the turf is taken by 

 Fescue, Dog's-tail, Agrostis, etc. Kyegrass can be 

 encouraged to grow by the use of nitrates, and by 

 heavy top dressings of good soil, or farmyard 

 manure, in winter. 



Lomagramme pteroides (sec Acrostic-hum blumea- 

 var.). 



LOMARIA. 



Description. A large genus of handsome stove 

 greenhouse and hardy Ferns (ord, Filices), easy to 

 grow, and favourites in almost all gardens. Botan- 

 ically the genus is closely allied to Blechnum, and 

 a number of plants have figured in both genera. 

 The plants bear barren and fertile fronds, which 

 may be either simple or pinnate, according to the 

 species. Gibba is perhaps the most popular, but 

 Spicant, the British Hard Fern, and its many 

 varieties, do well in a cool house as well as out of 

 doors. Ciliata may with advantage be employed 

 fur house decoration. Alpina, Germainii, and 

 lanceolata, being of small stature and slow-growing, 

 are very suitable for culture in window cases, and 

 although alpina is nominally hardy it does better 

 with shelter. Fluviatilis makes an elegant basket 

 subject, and L'Herminieri does best when planted 

 in pockets in dead Tree Fern stems. 



Many of the Lomarias, particularly L'Herminieri 

 and attenuata, are noteworthy for the pretty rose 

 pink tints of the young fronds. The fronds of 

 .Spicant and its varieties last well when cut. 



Propagation. By spores. Except in a few 

 instances, these are freely produced and germinate 

 quickly. Special varieties may be divided, and 

 this is the best method of increasing the lovely 

 varieties of Spicant. Suckers, or offsets, may be 

 utilised in the case of ciliata, gibba, and a few 

 others. 



Soil. Equal parts loam, leaf mould, and sand. 

 If leaf mould is not available peat may be em- 

 ployed, although it is not so good. 



LOMAUIA GIBBA (see p. SO). 



Other Cultural Points. A few pieces of sand- 

 stone may, with advantage, be mixed witli the soil. 

 They all dislike lime in any form. High tempera- 

 tures should be carefully avoided, or the plants 

 will fall sickly, and a prey to all sorts of insect 



