the garden, however, the taller sorts of Larkspur are much in request for providing cut material, particularly for the decoration of the dinner-table, and a number of plants should always be grown in reserve for this purpose.  It is usual to put in the seed where the plants are intended to stand, and March and April are the best months for sowing.  Thin out the seedlings promptly, and give each plant ample room for development, especially when grown on good ground.

Larkspurs may also be sown in September for producing an earlier display in the following year than is possible from spring-sown seed.

==Lavatera==

==Mallow.  Hardy annual and hardy perennial==

Countryside gardens owe not a little of their floral brightness to the Mallows.  The modern varieties of Lavatera, however, far surpass in effectiveness the flowers commonly met with and are regarded as among the finest subjects for creating an imposing display in tall borders and large beds.  For this purpose the annual varieties, Loveliness, =Rosea splendens=, and =Alba splendens=, are the most popular.  As transplanting is not to be depended upon, seed should be sown thinly in March, April or May where the plants are wanted to flower.  If the ground has been generously prepared fine specimens will result, and each plant should be allowed a spacing of at least two feet for development.

The perennial variety, =L.  Olbia=, makes a bold subject for herbaceous borders and shrubberies.  Seed may be sown in pans any time from March to August, putting out the plants when large enough for flowering in the following season.  Small plants of this variety may with advantage be potted for conservatory decoration.

==Lobelia==

==Annual and perennial; half-hardy==

There are several distinct classes of Lobelia, differing materially in height and habit.  For dwarf beds or edgings the =compact= varieties should alone be used.  These grow from four to six inches high, and form dense balls of flowers.  The =spreading= or =gracilis= class, including =L. speciosa= and =L.  Paxtoniana=, is in deserved repute for positions which do not demand an exact limit to the line of colouring.  The plants also show to advantage in suspended baskets, window boxes, rustic work, vases, and any position where an appearance of graceful negligence is aimed at.  The =ramosa= section grows from nine to twelve inches high, and produces much larger flowers than the classes previously named.

All the foregoing can be treated as annuals; and from sowings, made in February or March plants may be raised in good time for bedding out in May.  Use sandy soil, and place the seed-pans in a temperature of about 60 deg., taking care to keep them moist.  By the end of March or beginning of April the seedlings will be ready for transferring to pots, pans, or boxes.  The last named are very serviceable for this flower, for they afford opportunity of giving the seedlings