TALL LOBELIAS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1834, 14 January 1887, Page 8

TALL LOBELIAS.

The Journal of Horticulture in the following remarks calls attention to the usefulness of some of the talJ-growing species of lobelia for garden decoration :-— Amongst the many flowering plants now used for bold and effective grouping where a rich display of colour is wanted, few, if an^, are to be compared with these rare and striking denizens of our gardens. The group of lobelias proper, and' to which the

Cardinal flower, fL. c&rdinalis, f L.jSglendens, L. fulgens, L*. Vyphilitica WotjgrioMger with a crossing in .recent years, jar^ gll>extremejy Valuable garden plants;. the, morejsoj qwiug^t[O*their j readiness in adapting tti^s.efyes,! tp^rdnigry , circumstances in ;/; /g J a^d^uVj>**-siu positions where, the' soil -is" naturall^heavyg^pr damp( . good drainage , wfll be; v prmcjpal jrequisitej ,and [m : dry lqcaUtjes/^he > omyqberious attention required will.be occasionally wjftenngs. They are' exceedingly handsojqe bordei'ctjiauts, j where, i£ placed at inter vals ); , they will lighten up and show off' to | advantage,^ flowerjs *o*£ jdjiller hues. They are also .very effective in ciunjps or bed isolated on lawns, &o, ; and although reputed tender, they may be^afely wintered inj, their permanent quarters^ an 3 kqpt freei.'jF^om d&pip and .cold by, conical heaps ,'.6f which w the easier, aff,ect;ed by .tfie stalkg"<|ying down ufwinferr-'pne.lol,. tjh^finest/s^tVopsji^* longs to" the group Tiipa, Lobelial'Tiipa, and\also distributed under ihe^name*of,jTui^ s Fev|irt|i. This group, although' nbt/bjr'ge, .. rp'inpris^f a number of extremelyTpreity "ajui striding $auw, and which withatt^ntionto the i aWve^^Qiioiii;, may be quite safely carredjtt rough fhe It vfu/tfr in the open. For \he sectiou tl{ howi^e/ t warmest and driest sifcuations.eHould-ljei chosen, ricb^light soil, and unless \in the vicinity, of J a wall or hedge, deep planting.re'sbr'ted tb7r.sTh]|y are said to be very virulent and poisonbiis affecting the eyesight so ■as to. cause bliiidneSjS ; but we have not .heard .of this being .verified since its introduction' info England;. on* J*eijjg bruised or cut, however, they" emit aya v viscid, milky juice which .has a very,,, "unpleasant smell. „„ ' ' V .', .V ,