THE HOME FLORIST. 8 1 



TRITOMA UVARIA RED-HOT POKER (nearly Hardy Perennial). 

 This beautiful garden plant throws up, in September, numerous strong flower stems four feet 

 in height, which are surmounted, each, with a spike of red and yellow flowers of exceedingly 

 striking appearance. Although the Tritoma is nearly hardy in this latitude, it is better to take 

 up the plants in autumn and keep in a cool cellar or cold-pit, covering the roots with earth or 

 sand. Of the easiest culture, and will thrive in any garden soil. 



VALLOTA PURPUREA (Tender Bulb). 



This is a superb summer flowering bulb for pot culture, and also suitable for bedding. It is 

 easily grown, and in August throws up its flowering shoots a foot or more high, each of which 

 is surmounted by five to eight Lily-like flowers of brilliant scarlet color. During its season of 

 growth the plant should be abundantly watered, and exposed to the sun as much as possible. 

 In October water should be gradually withheld allowing them to become fully dry by Novem- 

 ber, in which condition they should be kept in any dry place, away from frost until March, when 

 they may be started into growth, by applying water, for another season of flowering. 



VERBENA (Annual or Greenhouse Perennial, jj, 45, 80 ). See Fig. 54. 



The Verbena is in every respect a desirable bedding plant, but of little use for pot culture. 

 In the open air it is a rapid grower, an abundant bloomer, and the flowers in the varieties embrace 

 colors and shades, varied without end almost, and exceedingly bright and attractive ; indeed 

 there is not a dull color to be found among them. Verbena plants set out in May require but a 

 warm shower to start them into rapid growth, which in the hot weather of June -will assume a 

 spreading form, and the plant be continually in bloom. By August the upright single stem 

 plant that was set in May, will have extended to three feet across, and will at all times 

 be covered with scores of beautiful, bright, in some varieties, fragrant flowers. Verbenas will 

 thrive in any soil, but, without exception, it should be in the highest state of fertility. I would 

 particularly caution inexperienced growers against planting too close in the beds ; three feet is 

 near enough. Do not grow them on the same spot too often, as they are finer on fresh soil. 

 After the plant has made some growth, the stems should be pegged down to the ground with 

 hair-pins, or little sticks like matches, four inches long crossed over them. The Verbena is 

 most generally increased from cuttings, although it can be easily reared from seed. The advant- 

 age of adopting the former method is, that the splendid named varieties can be maintained from 

 year to year, while it can never be known what colors will come from the seed, besides the lat- 

 ter will also lack the fine form of the selected named varieties, each one of which, is likely to 

 equal the best that could be reared among thousands, from seed. In winter, stock plants require 

 a cool, light, airy situation, on which account it is a difficult matter to keep up healthy ones, ex- 

 cept in the conservatory. Where it is desired to keep over stock it is better to start young plants 

 for the purpose from cuttings, in September, than to take up and pot old plants. Propagation 

 from these for bedding in the spring may be dorie at any time from January until the last of 

 March, but the young plants should be given as much light and air as possible. To grow seed- 

 lings, sow in February, March or April, provide plenty of light and air, and never allow them 

 to be crowded. Verbenas, if well hardened, will bear slight freezing without injury. 



VERBENA MONTANA (Hardy Verbena). This is a very pretty and perfectly hardy plant, 

 for the garden. The flowers are similar in form to the tender varieties ; of a bright rose color, 

 changing to lilac, and are produced in great profusion all summer. Plant is of low spreading 

 habit, and handsome. 



VERONICA (Half -Hardy Perennial, 30, 4$, 75). 



A class of plants blooming during the fall months, that are well adapted for bedding and pot 

 culture. The flowers are borne on spikes from three to five inches in length, running through 

 the various shades of purple, rose, lilac and white, and are attractive. The plants succeed in 

 any soil, and when growing in the garden may be taken up and preserved in a cold-pit during 

 winter, or maybe kept in a cool part of the conservatory. There is a handsome variegated 

 variety which is highly attractive, either as a pot, basket or vase plant, or for bedding. 



VIRGINIAN STOCK MALCOLMIA MARITIMA (Hardy Annual). 



This beautiful little annual, notwithstanding its popular name, is a native of the shores of 

 the Mediterranean. The seeds may be sown directly where the plants are wanted, early or at 

 any time in the spring. The plants grow six inches high, and embrace in the respective varie- 

 ties red, white and rose colored flowers. The flowers are small and distinct; are produced in 

 great profusion on erect stems well above the plant, from early in the season until after 

 frosts. Useful for massing and in ribbon beds, and may also be grown as an edging plant. 

 The plants should stand three or four inches apart. 



VIOLET (Hardy Perennial). 



Well known hardy spring flowering plants, very highly esteemed for their earliness, and 

 the rich refreshing fragrance of the flowers, which include several shades of violet-blue color, in 

 the different varieties. There are double and single varieties, the former being most highly 

 prized, although they lack somewhat in hardiness. These are forced to a very large extent, for 

 winter flower, in all large cities where a good demand for cut flowers exists. Plants designed 

 for this purpose, are grown in the open ground during summer, at a foot apart each way. In 



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