Nov. 1891.] THE BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH. 201 



cold districts a few cuttings may be put in during August, 

 and placed in a cold frame they will root readily, and be 

 well fitted in spring to be planted out in room of any that 

 may have been too much injured. Several fine species have 

 still to be introduced from New Zealand, particularly V. 

 macrantha, Hook, f., and V. Benthami, Hook. f. ; the former, 

 at least, should be quite hardy in this country, as it is found 

 at from 3000 to 6000 feet altitude. It has the largest flowers 

 of any of the species ; they are pure white, and about 1 inch 

 across. V. Benthami is also a most desirable species, and 

 has bright blue flowers. All attempts to introduce these fine 

 species alive into this country have hitherto failed, the long 

 journey having proved fatal to them. The difficulty will be 

 overcome by sending seeds home, when they are procurable. 



New Zealand veronicas are easily raised from seed, and 

 self-sown seedlings of many of the species spring up spon- 

 taneously near where old plants are growing ; and while 

 much may be done by vselecting varieties better suited in one 

 respect or another for garden purposes, it is to the hybridist 

 that we shall have mainly to look for improved varieties. 

 Some good results have already been obtained by crossing 

 the tender kinds only. Nothing has as yet been done in the 

 way of hybridising the hardy species ; but there is little 

 reason to doubt that, by crossing these with the tender and 

 more showy kinds, we might succeed in raising an improved 

 race of veronicas, perfectly capable of standing through our 

 worst winters. The numerous species, as they now exist, 

 are very suggestive of their having originated at some distant 

 date, from one or two types, as natural hybrids ; and this is 

 probably the cause of the great variation now found in the 

 genus. Be that as it may, the artificial cros.sing of several 

 of the species offers a tempting means of throwing additional 

 light upon, if not of solving, the problem of their origin. 



Nearly all the species naturally form compact shapely 

 bushes, and do not require much in the way of pruning 

 or trimming into shape. Their varied evergreen foliage 

 and different-coloured flowers render them very attractive at 

 all seasons. They are not particular as to soil, and they 

 may be increased rapidly and without much trouble from 

 cuttings. Few plants are so useful for various purposes as 

 those New Zealand speedwells. They are very effective 



