Lily of the Valley.--Set the roots in bunches 1 ft. apart, and before
severe weather sets in cover them with a dressing of well-rotted
manure. They should not be disturbed, even by digging among the roots.
If grown in pots, they should be kept in a cool place and perfectly
dry when their season is over: by watering they will soon come into
foliage and flower again. For forcing put ten or twelve "buds" in a
5-in. pot--any light soil will do--plunge the pot in a sheltered part
of the garden. From this they may be removed to the forcing-house as
required to be brought into bloom. Plunge the pots in cocoa-nut fibre
and maintain an even temperature of from 65 to 70 degrees.
Limnanthes Douglasii.--Very elegant and beautiful hardy annuals,
which are slightly fragrant. They must be grown in a moist and shady
situation. The seeds ripen freely, and should be sown in autumn to
produce bloom in June, or they may be sown in spring for flowering at
a later period. Height, 1 ft.
Linaria.--These all do best in a light, sandy loam, and make good
plants for rock-work. L. Bipartita is suitable for an autumn sowing.
The other annuals are raised in spring. L. Triornithophora is a
biennial, and may be sown any time between April and June, or in
August. The hardy perennial, L. Alpina, should be sown in April, and
if necessary transplanted in the autumn. Linarias flower from July to
September. Height, 6 in. to 1 ft.
Linnaea Borealis.--A rare, native, evergreen creeping perennial.
From July to September it bears pale pink flowers; it makes a pretty
pot-plant, and also does well in the open when planted in a shady
position. It enjoys a peat soil, and is propagated by separating the
creeping stems after they are rooted. Height, 11/2 in.
Linum (_Flax_).--This succeeds best in rich, light mould. The Linum
Flavum, or Golden Flax, is very suitable for pot culture; it grows 9
in. in height, and bears brilliant yellow flowers. It requires the
same treatment as other half-hardy perennials. The Scarlet Flax is an
annual, very free-flowering, and unsurpassed for brilliancy; easily
raised from seed sown in spring. Height, 11/2 ft. The hardy, shrubby
kinds may be increased by cuttings placed under glass. A mixture
of loam and peat makes a fine soil for the greenhouse and frame
varieties. They flower from March to July.
Lippia Reptans.--A frame creeping perennial which flowers in June. It
requires a light soil. Cuttings of the young wood may be struck under
glass. Height, 1 ft.
Lithospermum Prostratum.--A hardy perennial, evergreen trailer,
needing no special culture, and adapting itself to any soil. It is
increased by cuttings of the previous year's growth, placed in peat
and silver sand, shaded and kept cool, but not too wet. They should be
struck early in summer, so as to be well rooted before winter sets in.
Its blue flowers are produced in June. Height, 1 ft.
Loasa.--The flowers are both beautiful and curiously formed, but the
plants have a stinging property. They grow well in any loamy soil, and
are easily increased by seed sown in spring. Flowers are produced in
June and July. Height, 2 ft. Besides the annuals there is a half-hardy
climber, L. Aurantiaca, bearing orange-coloured flowers, and attaining
the height of 10 or 12 ft.
Lobelia.--These effective plants may be raised from seed sown in
January or February in fine soil. Sprinkle a little silver sand or
very fine mould over the seed; place in a greenhouse, or in a frame
having a slight bottom-heat, and when large enough prick them out
about 1 in. apart; afterwards put each single plant in a thumb-pot,
and plant out at the end of May. As the different varieties do not
always come true from seed, it is best to propagate by means of
cuttings taken in autumn, or take up the old plants before the frost
gets to them, remove all the young shoots (those at the base of the
plant are best, and if they have a little root attached to them so
much the better), and plant them thinly in well-drained, shallow pans
of leaf-mould and sand; plunge the pans in a hotbed under a frame,
shade them from hot sunshine, and when they are rooted remove them to
the greenhouse till spring, at which time growth must be encouraged by
giving a higher temperature and frequent syringing. They may then be
planted out in light, rich soil, where they will bloom in June or
July. Height, 4 in.