THE CULTURE OF THE VERBENA. 



47 



but not crowding each other ; the foliage should he short, hroad, bright, and 

 enough to hide the stalk ; in the eyed and striped varieties the colors should he 

 ivell defined and lasting, never running into each other, or changing in the 

 sun. 



At the Opening Exhibition of the Society, about the middle of May, 

 1859, it was conclusively shown that it was not impossible to grow ver- 

 benas as specimen plants. There were shown single pots of verbenas 

 grown in 10-inch pots, which measured three and four feet across, and 

 were a perfect mass of buds and blossoms ; some were trained flat, not a 

 branch rising more than a foot from the pot, others were taller, and others 

 again were so trained as to completely conceal the pot. These verbenas 

 were the admiration of all ; none could believe that such perfection of 

 beauty could be attained in a plant so common. May we not hope that the 

 example may be followed at our coming exhibitions ? 



It only remains for us to describe some of the best varieties, both old and 

 new ; those called first-class flowers can be recommended for general 

 culture, while many others, though very distinct and beautiful, are valua- 

 ble only in a large collection, or interesting to the amateur. We have 

 not noticed seedlings, unless they have been proved and shown to be 

 worthy of general ciilture. 



Giant of Battles. Flower and truss large ; habit good ; foliage large ; 

 color dark scarlet, with purplish eye. A good variety. 



Dred. Flower medium ; habit weak ; a good bloomer, but of a dull 

 purplish lake color. Pretty for variety. 



Admiral Dundas. Foliage and habit good ; color velvety scarlet. Fine. 



General Simpson. A magnificent variety ; color scarlet, crimson ; flower 

 and truss very large ; habit very strong ; by far the best of its color. No 

 garden should be without it. 



Celestial. A strong growing variety, the leaves oflen two inches across ; 

 truss large, forming a fine head ; color pink, with darker eye ; very fine. 



Evening Star. Color dark crimson, with well defined white eye ; growth 

 small ; very fine in the house, and one of the best of the eyed varieties for 

 the border. 



Rosy Gem. A lovely verbena ; flower and foliage of medium size ; color 

 rosy lake, with light eye ; fine in the house, but worthless for open culture. 



Brilliant de Vaise. Growth fine ; color crimson scarlet; a first-class varie- 

 ty ; succeeds equally well in the house and garden, though a late bloomer. 



Climax. Light, with dark eye ; good. 



Chauvieri. Of weak habit; color dazzling crimson, with dark eye; 

 valuable in a collection. 



Defiance, (Robinson's.) A fine old variety, always popular, and one of 

 the best for bedding ; growth strong ; color dazzling red. 



Defiance, (Kurtz's.) Of large strong growth; color light pink, shading 

 to a dark eye ; truss very large and flat; fine. 



Etoile de Venus. Similar to the last, but larger and finer. 



Annie. Habit strong, foliage medium ; color pure white ; truss large, 

 flat, single blooms very large ; in some situations in the garden it has been 



