234 THE FLOEAL WOELD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 



POT CULTURE OF THE YERBENA. 



BY A CONTKIBUTOK. 



j|ERBENAS merit a place, and most justly, among 

 popular florists' flowers, and perhaps a few hints on their 

 cultivation in pots may be acceptable to those who have 

 not hitherto adopted that mode of culture. I know of 

 no plant more useful or ornamental as a pot plant, for 

 decorating the greenhouse during the summer season, when the 

 proper inmates of that structure are enjoying the open air. If we 

 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. This present season has been 

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

 tinues 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 of 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 inch 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 hotbed frame where the heat 

 ranges from G5° to 70°, always keeping the sand wet. The advan- 

 tages to be realized by propagating the verbena in this way are, 

 that the cuttirjgs never require to be shaded in the brightest sun- 

 shine, consequently the young plants are not drawn up long aud 

 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 opera- 

 tions 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 three-inch 

 pots, and placed in a gentle heat for a few days, until they are estab- 

 lished in the pots; then top them, and harden them by degrees. 

 Never allow them to remain long after they begin to grow, or they 

 will form long, naked stems. As soon as the pots are filled with root:?, 

 shift into six-inch ones, and from these into eleven-inch 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 



