APRIL. 97 



VERBENAS. 



(Plate 99.) 



Our present illustration consists of three distinct kinds of Ver- 

 bena, raised by Mr. Edmonds, gardener to the Dowager Lady 

 Lacon, Great Ormesby. Mr. Edmonds has long been a success- 

 ful raiser of this interesting and useful tribe of plants. Princess 

 Royal, Speciosissima, and Ormesby Beauty were amongst his first 

 productions that attracted attention. These were succeeded by 

 Bridesmaid, Rouge et Noir, Annie Laurie, Mrs. Gerard Leigh, 

 President, &c. The great superiority of Mr. Edmonds' Verbenas 

 over most other kinds is the large and distinctive white or yellow 

 eye that they possess, almost resembling that of an Alpine 

 Auricula. This is most conspicuous in one of the varieties now 

 figured, named Wonderful ; and being of good habit, dwarf, and 

 very free blooming, will make an interesting plant for pot culture, 

 as well as a first-rate bedding variety. Blue Beard is also very 

 novel and attractive, and, together with Wonderful and Lady 

 Lacon, make a group of three excellent flowers — tlie two last 

 named having been successfully exhibited at the National Flori- 

 cultural Society. 



Since January 1849 there have not been any Verbenas figured 

 in the Florist. Three varieties then appeared, which were con- 

 sidered great novelties at the time, only one of which is now 

 retained in collections, namely. Princess Alice — so great and rapid 

 has been the improvement in this flower. Messrs. A. Henderson 

 and Co. have a fine large scarlet variety to send out this spring, 

 raised by Mr, Woodroffe, named Mrs. Woodroffe ; it is a bold, 

 noble variety. Mr. Smith, of the Tollington Nursery, Hornsey 

 Road, is also offering some pretty additions this spring. Boule 

 de Feu and Violacea are amoni>;st the best of them. 



The followinsr are the best older varieties that have come 

 under our notice : — 



Annie Laurie (Edmonds), deep rosy lilac, with large white eye; distinct 



Bouquet Parfait (Chauviere), shaded rosy purple 



Brilliant, orange scarlet, yellow eye 



Brilliant de Vaisc, shaded crimson, large trass 



Cardinal Wiseman, Jieiv, rose, large truss 



Comtes^e de Belleval (Chauviere), lilac blue, large truss 



Defiance (Robinson), deep bright scarlet 



Eblouisante (Chauviere), deep scarlet, large dark centre 



Francisse Rousseau (Chauviere), blush, large deep pink centre, ^^e 



Forget-me-Not (Smith), large lilac, crimson eye 



Islington Rival (Smith), pale scarlet, good 



Jerome (Thompson), deep rosy purple, large truss 



King of Scarlets (Thompson), brill in nt orange scarlet, creeping habit 



Mdlle. de Freleuse (Chauviere), pale blush, large pink centre 



Mrs. F. S. Caley (Chauviere), white, small pink eye, fine truss 



Mrs. D. Tysson (Robinson), blush white, with large crimson centre 



NEW SERIES, VOL. V. NO. Lll. H 



