Apr.] 



THE FLOWER GARDEN. 



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hazard their surviving the winter. In dry and favorable situ- 

 ations the hardier sorts will stand our ordinary winters, with a 

 slight covering of dry litter, coal-ashes, or such like, placed 

 over them in the beginning of Decegiber, and removed by the 

 beginning of March. 



Chrysanthemums do not readily come into flower by arti- 

 ficial means, like many other plants, neither do they withstand 

 any degree of frost. The only means, therefore, we have of 

 prolonging their season of flowering, is by protecting them 

 under glass. They will, if kept free of damp, continue to 

 flower till Christmas. Neither do they perfect seeds with us, 

 otherwise their varieties would soon become as numerous as 

 that of the dahlia, and other popular flowers. 



PLANTING LOBELIAS. 



The whole family of Lobelia are peculiarly interesting, 

 although the majority of them are plants of humble growth. 

 The species most generally cultivated as flower garden plants 

 are L. cardinalis, L. fulgens, L, splendens, and L. siphi- 

 litica. The first of these has long been an esteemed flower 

 in our gardens ; the second and third species are of modern 

 introduction, but the splendor of their flowers has entitled 

 them to a place in almost every garden; the last species is 

 rather an old inhabitant of our gardens, and differs from 

 the others in having blue flowers. The whole family are very 

 readily propagated either by seeds, suckers, or cuttings. 

 The seeds should be sown in pots soon after they are ripe, 

 and as they are very minute, should not be covered with mould. 

 The mould in which all the species, particularly the kinds 

 above-mentioned, succeed best, is peat or bog-mould. Before 

 the seeds vegetate, and while the plants are young, they re- 

 quire to be kept moderately damp ; but after the plants have 

 attained a considerable size, they cannot then be over-watered. 

 Indeed, they may be grown on the margin of a pond or river 

 to great perfection; and in such situations, when immersed 

 under water, they are found to stand our winters, whereas, 

 if left unprotected when planted in the flower borders, they 

 generally perish. 



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