LOBELIAS. 
247 
a single crown, while those towards the front had three and four 
each ; the advantage of this was apparent when they came to 
flower, for the single stem proceeding from the plants in the 
middle of the bed, having the entire benefit of all the roots, rose 
some inches higher than those whose vigour was divided among 
a number of stems, and thus formed a crown to the mass. The 
kinds planted were all scarlet, but, to relieve them and cover the 
piles and margin of the bed, several of the creeping species were 
planted beneath, and they answered the desired purpose effectually. 
The tall ones, from the richness and moisture of the soil, combined 
perhaps with the warmth of the situation, grew away amazingly, 
and in September were from two feet and a half to four feet high, 
with nearly half their length clothed with brilliant scarlet, the 
individual flowers partaking of the general vigour, and but for the 
relief afforded by the circle of blue would have been, in the 
words of a lady who saw them, “painfully dazzling.” I have 
now cut them down, and potted the stools for the winter, and 
found, on taking them up, the roots had penetrated completely 
to the bottom of the bed, and were there matted together among 
the moist debris. Water was given liberally after the plants 
began to grow, and through June and July they received a great 
quantity, but afterwards, thinking it might prejudice their bloom¬ 
ing, it was withheld. 
The varieties employed were atrosanguinea, cardinalis, fulgens, 
multijlora , propinqua, splendens, and ignea. The dark crimson 
foliage of the last having a most beautiful effect. The supporting 
piles of the centre of the bed were covered with the creeping L. 
erinus , chosen for its spreading habit, and round the flat margin 
of the bed the neat little L. compacta displayed its myriads of 
deep blue flowers ; the whole forming for nearly three months a 
most effective and brilliant group. With regard to the preserva¬ 
tion of these plants through the winter, the most essential point 
in their management is to keep them rather dry, as they are very 
subject to rottenness, arising from damp stagnant air; they should 
stand near the glass in a cool pit or greenhouse, where air can be 
freely given, and receive but very limited supplies of water till 
the return of the spring. Next year I contemplate growing them 
even finer, as I intend to take advantage of an earlier part of the 
season, so as to have them stronger and further advanced when 
