398 On the Cultivation of the Lobelia fulgens. 



wood. The base of the stem was near six inches in circumfer- 

 ence ; the heighth of the centre spike was five feet and a 

 half; the shoots from the bottom and sides of the main stem 

 were in number seventeen, rising together round the prin- 

 cipal stem, to the height of about four feet and a half. 

 Mr. Hedges states, that his plants were in the two pre- 

 ceding years, much taller than that now described. Some 

 few plants were observed to be rather shorter, and to 

 have a more bushy appearance : this is produced by stop- 

 ping the centre stem, after the last shifting, by which the 

 side shoots become more vigorous and fuller of flower, and 

 in this state they form handsome companions to the flower- 

 ing plants of Campanula pyramidalis, whose beautiful spikes 

 of blue flowers agreeably contrast with the brilliant scarlet 

 of the Lobelia. 



