372 GARDEN FLOWERS. 



that form complete balls, and, being abundant, is very effec- 

 tive. This is generally propagated from suckers, which come 

 up, like those of the Lilac, very freely. There is a great va- 

 riety of species, but few are so handsome as the Guelder- 

 rose. V. macrocephalum and plicatum are, however, fine 

 showy shrubs. Rich loamy soil. Increased by layers, cut- 

 tings, or suckers. 



V. macrocephalum (large-headed) ; hardy shrub ; 10 feet ; 

 flowers white, in May; China; 1845. v - Opulus (Guelder- 

 rose) ; hardy shrub ; 8 feet ; flowers white, in May ; Britain. 

 V. plicatum (plaited) ; hardy shrub ; 10 feet ; flowers white, in 

 May ; China ; 1845. 



Many of our native species, such as V. prunifolium, Len- 

 tago, dentatum, and lantanoides, are very handsome shrubs. 



VICIA. Vetch. [Leguminosas.] Hardy annuals or per- 

 ennials. Common soil. Propagated by seeds or division. 



VINCA. Periwinkle. [Apocynaceag.] Pretty, hardy, shrub- 

 by plants, always dwarf and evergreen, generally of trailing 

 habit, and well adapted for covering the surface of the ground 

 in shady situations where little else will live. They are in- 

 creased by separating the rooted trailing shoots. Common 

 soil. V. rffsea, and its variety alba, and ocdlata, are properly 

 stove shrubs, but do finely as bedding plants in rich soil, in 

 a warm exposure : they may be raised from seed in a hot-bed 

 or from cuttings. They should not be planted out until all 

 danger of cold weather is over. Natives of East Indies. 



V. herbacea (herbaceous) ; hardy evergreen trailing perennial ; 

 6 inches; flowers purple, in June ; Hungary ; 1816. V. major 

 (greater); hardy evergreen trailing shrub; 18 inches; flowers 

 blue, in July ; England. V. minor (lesser) ; hardy evergreen 

 trailing shrub ; i foot ; flowers blue, in May ; England. 



There is a variety with variegated leaves. 



VIOLA. Violet. [Violaceae.] A large genus of pretty 



