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Gardening for Amateurs 



when covered with rich yellow blooms ; the 

 plants are about 1 foot high. L. Narbonense 

 is another species with blue flowers, in full 

 beauty during June and July, height 1 foot. 

 L. arboreum is shrubby in habit, though not 

 more than about 1 foot high; in a warm, 

 sunny position the plants become covered 

 in summer with lemon-yellow blooms. 



Lobelia. A few years ago the herbaceous 

 or perennial Lobelias were only represented 

 in gardens by some three or four species, 

 but the raising of a number of beautiful 

 varieties obtained by cross-breeding between 

 L. cardinalis, L. fulgens, and L. syphilitica 

 has served to draw attention to their value. 

 The season of flowering is from July to 

 October. The plants are readily propagated 

 by division of the roots in February or March, 

 or by cuttings inserted in pots of light, sandy 

 soil in a frame during April or May. If 

 seeds are sown in a heated greenhouse dur- 

 ing February the young plants will flower 

 in autumn of the same year, or they may 

 be sown in a cold frame from May to July 

 to flower the following year. The plants 

 delight in a rich, moist soil, being particularly 

 happy in the bog garden and by the water 

 side. They are worth planting freely, for 

 they make a brilliant display in late summer 

 and autumn. In cold districts it is some- 

 times found necessary to lift the roots and 

 store them in a cold frame, replanting outside 

 again in April. A covering of old coal ashes 

 placed over the crowns from November to 

 March is, as a rule, sufficient protection. 

 L. cardinalis is a North American plant 

 with green leaves ; the Mexican kind, L. 

 fulgens, has red foliage ; both have brilliant 

 scarlet flowers. Between these two a num- 

 ber of very beautiful hybrids have been 

 raised : Queen Victoria, Firefly, St. Anne's, 

 Lord Ardilaun, Gloire de St. Anne's being 

 noteworthy. Even hardier than these are 

 various crossbred sorts from the North 

 American L. syphilitica, which itself has 

 blue flowers ; a few of the best of these are 

 Carmineus, Caerulea grandiflora, Magnifi- 

 cent, Multiflora, Milleri, and Gerardi. 



Lychnis (Perennial Campion). There 

 is much to admire in the varied growth and 

 richly coloured blooms of the perennial 

 Campions. They are very showy border 

 plants and when space permits a bed or 



two devoted to them is quite worth while. 

 They flourish in good garden soil which has 

 been liberally manured, and are increased 

 by division in autumn or spring, and (except 

 the double sorts) by seeds, sown on a border 

 outside from April to June. The double 

 varieties may be propagated by cuttings 

 when the young growths push up in spring. 

 They root best in a closed frame with slight 

 bottom heat. No herbaceous border of any 

 pretensions is complete without Lychnis 

 chalcedonica. The plants grow about 3 feet 

 high, and produce their brilliant scarlet 

 flowers from June to August. The popular 

 name of this plant is the Jerusalem Cross. 

 There are several varieties, including a 

 white, double scarlet, double white, and 

 flesh-pink (carnea), which may be included 

 in large collections. L. coronaria, the Crown 

 Campion, another name for which is Agro- 

 stemma coronaria, is a very distinct and easily 

 grown plant. It thrives in most soils and posi- 

 tions, in sun or partial shade, and looks well 

 among hardy ferns. The plants grow 2 to 

 2 feet high, have white, downy leaves 

 and rosy-crimson flowers. There is a white 

 variety, alba, and one with crimson-maroon 

 flowers, named atrosanguinea. Intermediate 

 between these are varieties of numerous 

 shades of colour which are readily raised 

 from seeds. Other kinds are L. dioica rubra 

 plena, which has double crimson flowers 

 and grows 2 feet ; L. Haageana, scarlet 

 and various shades of rose, pink and white, 

 1 foot high, flowering July and August ; 

 L. vespertina alba pi., double white, 2 feet, 

 July to September ; and L. Viscaria, rosy- 

 red, 1 foot high, May and June. There is a 

 white variety, Viscaria alba, and a first-rate 

 double variety, Viscaria splendens pi., with 

 rosy-red double flowers. 



Lythrum (Loosestrife). A very useful 

 plant for borders, wild gardening, and the 

 water side, the Purple Loosestrife will thrive 

 in most soils and situations. It is particu- 

 larly useful for rather moist, partially shaded 

 borders a north border, for instance, where 

 it is often difficult to find perennials which 

 will flower freely. Growing 3 to 4 feet 

 high, the Purple Loosestrife makes a bright 

 display in many dull corners during July 

 and August. It is readily increased by 

 division from October to March during 





