II. DWAEF BkdDIXG ] 



Grrmitc Citij, pure a 



flowers, and yellow foliage. 





right liglit 





Lobelias are among the most useful plants from a 

 - horticultural standpoint. The artist in bedding effects 

 would be seriously handicapped without his neat little tufts^'of blue. 

 The taller section is not nearly so well used, because there is no dearth 

 of scarlets and crimsons among flowers ; but a very fine effect can be 

 obtained by introducing clumps of these in the border, or towards the 

 centre of beds. The named varieties of Lobelias must of necessity be 

 grown from cuttings or divisions of the tufts ; but for ordinary bedding 

 purposes it is the custom to treat L. Erinus as though it were an annual, 

 sowing the minute seeds in light soil about March, and germinating 

 them in gentle heat. As soon as the seedlings are large enough to 

 handle safely, they are pricked out into pans or boxes, but still kept 

 inside till they are wanted for the open ground. It should be remembered 

 that bedding plants raised from cuttings are, as a rule, more compact 

 tluin specimens of the same variety raised from seed. To propagate 

 from cuttings, a few plants should be kept in pots throughout the summer 

 :uid prevented from flowering. 1\\ winter tliese should be stored in 

 frames or greenhouses where they can have light and air. Li February 

 they should be treated to gentle heat to induce growth ; the new shoots 

 are then used as cuttings and struck in light sandy soil, in which they 

 soon root. By this method a considerable stock may be obtained that 

 shall be absolutely uniform in colour, size, and Iiabit. The tall-growing 

 sorts may be treated in the various ways suggested for the dwarfs, but in 



