18 THE FLORIST. 



take into consideration its graceful habit, the variety and brilliancy 

 of its colours, which offer hues for every taste, and above all, the 

 lengthened period it continues to produce its lovely blossoms, it is 

 unrivalled, and ought to be more generally grown in pots as speci- 

 mens, more especially now that the numerous varieties are so much 

 improved, both in form and colour. The present season has been 

 productive of some gems of the first class ; and if the Verbena con- 

 tinue to be improved as it has been during these few years past, I 

 have no doubt that the time is not far distant when it will form one 

 of the leading features at our floral exhibitions. 



I do not know if my system of propagating this favourite be new ; 

 but as it is simple, certain, and expeditious, it may be as well to 

 state how I proceed from the commencement. I fill shallow pans 

 (such as are used for placing under flower-pots) to within a quarter 

 of an incli of the top with silver-sand, and pour in water sufficient 

 just to cover the sand. I then make the cuttings in the usual way, 

 and push them into the wet sand ; put the labels to them, and place 

 them in a hot-bed frame where the heat ranges from 65 to 70 deg., 

 always keeping the sand wet. The advantages to be realised by 

 propagating the Verbena in this way are, that the cuttings never 

 require to be shaded in the brightest sunshine, consequently the 

 young plants are not drawn up long and lanky ; the cuttings never 

 stop growing from the time they are put in until they are ready to 

 pot off, which is in about six or seven days, when they may be 

 drawn out of the wet sand, with a bunch of roots, without injuring 

 a single fibre. The best time to commence operations for growing 

 specimen Verbenas in pots is February, or as soon as vegetation 

 commences for the season. It is desirable to pot a few of the best 

 autumn-struck plants for the sake of early bloom ; but they never 

 make such handsome specimens, nor continue so long in good health, 

 as plants raised from cuttings in spring. 



As soon as the cuttings are well rooted, they should be potted 

 into sixty-size pots, and placed in a gentle heat for a few days, until 

 they are established in the pots ; then top them, and harden them 

 by degrees ; never allow them to remain long in heat after they begin 

 to grow, or they will form long, naked stems. As soon as the pots are 

 filled with roots, shift into thirty-twos, and from thirty-twos into 

 twelve- sized pots. During the growth of the plant, all shoots must be 

 stopped, in order to cause the plants to grow bushy ; and never allow 

 them to flower until the plant is properly formed, and has as many 

 leading shoots as are wanted. 



The compost in which I grow the Verbena is, equal parts turfy 

 loam, leaf-mould, and peat, with a little silver-sand added, to keep 

 the soil open. I water twice a-week with liquid manure, and occa- 

 sionally syringe over head with clean water to cleanse the foliage. 

 If the saving of the seed is no object, all flowers ought to be cut off 

 as soon as they begin to decay. I need scarcely add, that the grand 

 secret in the successful culture of this, as well as of all plants, is, 

 plenty of drainage ; without this no plant will continue long in good 

 health. 



