Commercial Gardening 



drained soil on warm sheltered borders, or in beds about 4J ft. wide. They 

 flower freely, and the bulbs may be grown for several years in succession 

 if necessary. It is better to take them up after the leaves have withered; 

 but if covered with a layer of old soil or manure, a crop of China Asters 

 or Ten-week Stocks may be taken off the same ground during the summer 

 months. There are many kinds of Darwin and Cottage Garden Tulips, 

 varying in price from 50s. and upwards per 1000; but market growers 

 confine themselves to a few that experience tells them will sell best. 



The curiously cut Parrot Tulips and the several natural species are 

 dealt in chiefly by bulb merchants, and fairly large numbers are purchased 

 by the owners of large gardens and by public-park authorities. 



Ursinea pulchra (Sphenoyyne speciosa). A pretty Mexican annual 

 with divided leaves, and creamy-yellow Marguerite-like flowers, 2-3 in. 

 across, with a blackish centre. There are several forms of it. Seeds may 

 be sown in spring to produce plants for bedding out in May and June. 



Venidium calendulaceum. A showy South African composite, 6-12 in. 

 high, with Dandelion-like leaves white beneath, and bright golden-yellow 

 flowers with a blackish centre resembling those of the Common Marigold. 

 This plant, although really a perennial, is usually raised from seeds sown 

 in March or April. 



Veratrum album (WHITE HELLEBORE). A distinct Caucasian plant, 

 3-5 ft. high, with broad deeply ribbed leaves and erect trusses of white 

 and greenish flowers. V. nigrum and V. viride (Helonias viridis) have 

 purplish and greenish flowers respectively. All kinds have poisonous 

 rootstocks, from which the Hellebore powder of commerce is prepared. 

 (See Vol. I, p. 215.) The plants like a rich, loamy soil, with a little peat 

 or leaf mould, and are increased by seeds and division. 



Verbaseum (MULLEIN). A 

 large group of bold-growing plants 

 as easily grown as Foxgloves, and 

 raised from seeds in most cases. 

 The best kinds include Caledonia, 

 Chaixi,densiftorum, nigrum, olym- 

 picum, pannosum, phlomoides, all 

 with yellow flowers in summer and 

 autumn, in long erect spikes up to 

 10 ft. high in some cases. There 

 are white-flowered forms of Chaixi 

 and nigrum, while phoeniceum has 



y^&^SH^^^^ * purple, white, violet, lilac, rose, and 

 '"veronica (SPEEDWELL). -A 

 Sitfllrs large genus of hardy and half- 



hardy herbaceous and shrubby 

 plants differing greatly in appear- 

 ance and habit. Among the best of the herbaceous group are gentian- 



Fig. 252. Veronica spicata 



