SOME POPULAR PERENNIALS 69 



are strictly biennials. They are best raised from seed sown 

 early in the year, and if they are specially strong they 

 will flower themselves to death the following summer. But 

 it more often happens that they only do moderately well 

 in the second summer, but in the third year throw up one 

 main and several small spikes of bloom, and then kill 

 themselves with blooming. Seed ripens and is thrown on 

 to the border if the spikes are not removed, giving rise to 

 plenty of seedlings. Plant in November or March, prefer- 

 ably the former, and support with strong stakes in summer 

 if the garden is exposed. Also keep the plants well supplied 

 with water. 



Good Varieties. 

 Verbascum 



Olympicum (yellow), June-Aug. . . 6-8 ft. 



Phlomoides (yellow), June-Aug. . . 5-6 ft. 



For descriptions of the many named varieties see Hardy 

 Plant Catalogues. 



Veronica : One of the very best of hardy plants. Yet 

 for some reason it is not often grown. It thrives in any 

 moist ordinary garden soil, and is covered with bloom in 

 the late summer. It is propagated readily by division 

 of the roots in November or March, and may also be raised 

 from seed. When established it spreads rapidly, especially 

 V. spicata alba, and does well in a moist sunny border in 

 a town garden. Plant in March. 



Good Varieties. 

 Veronica 



longifolia (blue), July-Aug. .v >-, 3 ft. 



spicata (blue), July-Aug. -. . .. i^ ft. 



spicata alba (white), July-Aug. . . ij ft. 



subsessilis (violet blue), Aug. v ;. 2ft. 

 Viola, Border Variety : -This has been dealt with in the 

 notes on Pansy (page 63). 



Viola cornuta : This is quite different from the Border 

 Variety, and it may be treated in the usual way for hardy 

 perennials. It is most useful as a covering plant ; once 

 started it grows rapidly, and soon covers the ground with 



