VICIA. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDBN. 



VlNCA. 



771 



which are broadly lanceolate, are about 

 9 inches in length and 2j inches broad, 

 dark green above, and felted with dim- 

 coloured tomentum below. The vigorous 

 growths are terminated by corymbs of 

 yellowish-white flowers, which in Sep- 

 tember give place to huge clusters of 

 fruits, at first red and finally glossy black. 

 It attains 8 to 10 feet, and as much 

 through, and is handsome in isolation. 

 C. and W. China. 



V. SIEBOLDI. A handsome and distinct 

 evergreen bush, with large glossy leaves 

 and large heads of white flowers, in May 

 and June in Southern England. A pro- 

 mising kind, at least for districts where 

 our evergreens usually escape the effects 

 of hard winters. 



V. TINUS (Laurustinus). A beautiful 

 and fragrant evergreen, thriving over a 

 large area of Great Britain and Ireland, 

 especially near the sea and on warm and 

 gravelly soil, though now and then injured 

 by severe winters even in the country 

 south of London. In sunny positions it 

 usually flowers freely, but not in shade, 

 commencing to bloom in December, it 

 will continue till the end of March. 

 Although all its flowers are perfect, it 

 does not ripen fruit regularly, but fruits 

 occasionally occur, the colour being a 

 dark blue. There are several varieties 

 of the Laurustinus, one of which, the var. 

 lucidum, has fine large leaves, shining and 

 almost smooth on both sides, and the 

 flowers and flower-trusses also are larger. 

 It is possibly not quite so hardy as some 

 forms of Laurustinus, and should have a 

 sheltered sunny spot. Other varieties are 

 hirtum, distinguished by the hairiness of 

 the leaves and branches, and purpureum, 

 which has the leaves suffused with a dull 

 purple tinge. Laurustinus can be struck 

 from cuttings. 



V. WRIGHTII. An erect shrub from the 

 mountains of N. Japan, and hardy in 

 Britain, though as yet hardly known. Of 

 spreading habit, the leaves are large, 

 thick, and rounded, coarsely toothed, and 

 finely tinted with scarlet and ruddy-purple 

 on fading, and its large fruits are brilliant 

 in their early stages. It promises to be 

 one of the best for autumn effect. 



VICIA ( Vetch) . Perennial and 

 annual herbs, several of which are 

 native, and worthy of more care than 

 they often get. They grow freely in 

 almost any soil, and are raised from 

 seed and increased by careful division. 

 The following are the most useful 

 species : 



V. ARGENTEA (Silvery Vetch). Has 

 silvery leaves and prostrate habit, is 

 without tendrils, about 8 inches high, 

 spreading freely in light soil ; the rather 

 large whitish flowers are veined with violet 

 in the upper, and spotted with purple in 

 the lower, part. It is not a brilliant plant 



in flower, but the foliage makes it worthy 

 of a place in the rock garden. Pyrenees. 

 Division or seed. 



V. CRACCA (Purple Vetch). A pretty 

 native plant common in many districts, 

 wreathing hedgerows and bushy tufts with 

 its graceful shoots and bluish-purple 

 flowers. In many districts it plants itself 

 so prettily that there is no need to culti- 

 vate it. It is perennial, and should be 

 kept in the rougher parts of the garden. 



V. ONOBRYCHUS. A lovely Vetch bear- 

 ing long and handsome racemes of flower 

 during summer, when it brightens the 

 Alps of France and Italy, giving an effect 

 like that of some of the purple Australian 

 Pea-flowers. It is best grouped in the 

 rock garden or on a grassy bank. 



V. PYRENAICA. A graceful perennial of 

 dwarf habit, with abundant rich purple 

 flowers of large size from April to June. It 

 is one of the prettiest of Pea-flowered 

 rock plants, its soft green, finely-cut leaves 

 making a cheerful groundwork, drooping 

 from rocky shelves or draping old walls. 

 It spreads freely by underground runners, 

 but is easily kept in bounds and not at all 

 troublesome. Pyrenees. 



V. SYLVATICA (Wood Vetch) . This 

 pretty native plant, with trailing stems 

 of 5 or 6 feet, threads its way through 

 shrubs and hedges, displaying abundant 

 creamy-white flowers streaked with blue 

 or purple, and bright pea-green leaves. 

 Where unknown as a wild plant, it is well 

 worth a place in the woodland garden, and 

 is easily raised from seed. 



Vieusseuxia. See MOR.EA. 



VILLARSIA (Yellow Buckbean). 

 V. nymphcBoides is a pretty British 

 water plant, with leaves like a Water 

 Lily, but smaller, and floating. Its 

 yellow flowers are borne singly, and 

 last through the summer. Division. 



The following two kinds I have at 

 Gravetye, but am not sure if they are 

 as hardy as the common wild kind : 



V. RENIFORMIS. A graceful water 

 pla.nt, a welcome addition for fountain 

 basins and pools without rush of water. 

 It may even be useful in open water, like 

 our native Villarsia. 



V. OVATA. Quite distinct from V. reni- 

 formis, has the same beautifully-fringed 

 flowers, and is most welcome for fountain 

 basins. 



V I N C A (Periwinkle). Perennial 

 trailers, hardy and vigorous anywhere. 

 The well-known V. major (common 

 Periwinkle) is useful for banks or 

 masses of rootwork, and also for rocky 

 places or by wood walks. The lesser 

 Periwinkle ( V. minor) is much smaller 

 and useful for the same positions ; it 

 also has several varieties worth grow- 



