APOCYNACE.^. 189 



pagated by cuttings, in the autumn or in spring, in a cold frame 

 or under a hand-glass, kept moderately close and shaded till the 

 process of rooting has commenced, and by division either in 

 autumn or spring. 



V. major {Large Pei-ku inkle) is the strongest and largest of the 

 hardy Vlncas ; it grows from i foot to 2 or 3 feet high, according 

 to soil and situation. The leaves are broad, ovate, bright shining 

 green. There are two sorts of branches, those growing erect 

 from the roots and bearing flowers, and those trailing and flower- 

 less, and rooting as they extend. The flowers are large, somewhat 

 bell-shaped, and blue in darker or brighter shades. It flowers 

 throughout the spring and early summer. It is a native of Eng- 

 land, in many parts, and of the south of Europe and the Cau- 

 casus. There are several interesting and valuable varieties of 

 this species. A white-flowered sort, not very common, has a 

 fine efl"ect, mixed with the blue, on banks, or wherever masses 

 may be grown. The V. major ^ var. eleganiissima, has the leaves 

 blotched and margined with creamy white, and is an elegant 

 plant for many purposes. V. viajor^ var. aurea, is even more 

 beautiful and effective than the preceding. The leaves are 

 richly marked with golden yellow, which in the spring, when 

 young growth is being made, is very beautiful indeed. V. major^ 

 var. reticulata, is an elegant but not verj^ striking sort, having 

 the veins of the leaves delicat-ely marked with golden yellow. 

 In rich soils and moist shady situations this is not a constant 

 variety, being apt to run green where over-well fed ; but in 

 poorer soil, and more exposed places, the effect of the rich 

 colouring of the veins on the dark shining leaf-ground is very 

 elegant. 



V. minor, the common Periwinkle, is much more prostrate 

 and slender than the foregoing species, and is, if possible, more 

 useful for covering banks and for planting under trees. The 

 leaves are smaller than those of V, major, and they are ovate- 

 lanceolate. The flowers also are smaller, but more profuse ; 

 they are also more variously coloured, there being blue, purple, 

 violet, pink, and white-coloured varieties. There are also tvvo 

 varieties with prettily-variegated leaves, the one creamy and 

 the other golden yellow. It flowers in April and May, and on- 

 wards throughout the early summer months. Native of the 

 same countries as the last, but enjoys rather a wider distribu- 

 tion in northern and central Europe. 



V. herbacea {Herbaceous Ferizvi?ikle). — This is a very different 

 and distinct plant from either of the preceding. The branches 

 are herbaceous, and have a very limited extension : they are 

 prostrate, and rarely exceed 9 inches in length. The leaves are 



