216 WINDOW GARDENING. 



moist; the seeds should also be soaked before sowing. When the second row of 

 leaves is well developed transplant the seedlings into shallow boxes. 



As a plant for a vase, either outdoors or indoor.s, the Verbena has few equals, 

 its bright cheerful colors and steady bloom being well calculated to please the 

 fancy of any one. 



Many Verbenas are grown in the house during the summer season, although 

 more pretty in the open garden border. Yet we suppose every one has their 

 fancy and like to keep something pretty constantly on their window sill. They 

 need only plenty of light and air ; not too much watering, and careful pinching. 



A good soil for potting Verbenas is sand 1 part, loam 2 parts, and leaf mould 

 or decayed manure 2 parts. Keep it well drained. If you have a conservatory 

 place them upon a top shelf until ready to bring to the window for show. Damp- 

 ness causes mildew, and then comes the green fly, the destruction of which is 

 secured only by fumigation with tobacco. 



If they grow too straggling, train them, and a convenient trellis or framework 

 may be made for them by using some of the wire or wooden frames used in 

 floral stores, set sloping outward from the edge of the pots. 



The list of varieties is indeed formidable, and every florist has not only his 

 fancies, but seedlings of his own year after year, so that new varieties are 

 abundant enough not to attract any remarkable attention. Our bright summer 

 sunshiny days are very suitable for the development of seeds ; hence our 

 American florists are able in many cases to produce handsome varieties surpass- 

 ing those of Europe. 



Special List. 

 Annie, one of the very best, white, striped with crimson ; blooms constantly, 



and vigorous grower, truss large. 

 Black Bedder, very dark maroon, rich. 

 Conspicua, ruby scarlet, with white eye. 

 Colossus, crimson, violet eye, very large. 

 Ceres, light blush, crimson eye. 

 Decorator, light cherry scarlet, yellow eye. 

 Diadem, large white, violet bordered. 

 Enoch Arden, blush, crimson and maroon. 

 ^Formosa, large pink; white eye. 

 * Gazelle, deep blue, clear white eye. 



Harlequin, pure white, striped and splashed with rosy carmine. 

 Ivanhoe, rich bluish purple, white eye. 

 King of Blacks, deep maroon. 

 Lafayette, scarlet crimson, with white centre. 

 Fire Gleam, light scarlet, dwarf habit. 

 Pink Beauty, bright i>ink, with white eye. 

 Purple Standard, rich dark purple, white centre. 

 Silver Star, dark maroon, with large white centre. 



