510 THE GARDEN AND ITS FRITITS. [Chap. V. 



18. Model of Perfection (Baron). — Many Letter models at the present 

 day ; color creamy ■white. 



19. Susannah (Veitch). — Flowers medium-sized and moderately smooth ; 

 color creamy white. 



20. Pyramid (Parsons). — Flower medium-sized ; spike close and good ; 

 color butf. 



21. Poupre de Tyre (Bircham). — A noble spike ; flowers large and free ; 

 color rich dark-purple ; a first-rate variety. 



22. Penelope (Bircham). — A very showy and beautiful variety ; color fine 

 rose. 



23. Walden Gem (Chatcr). — Spike very fine; flowers large and of fine 

 form ; color deep crimson. 



24. Minnie Gray (Loring). — Size medium, form good ; color white. 



As these have all been produced by planting seeds, and saving none but 

 the finest flowering plants, we recommend a continuance of the practice by 

 all who grow hollyhocks. 



577. The Verbena is an almost indispensable plant in lawns, it is so pretty 

 to fill up cut figures in the sward. The name, verbena, is an unmeaning 

 one, being derived from the Latin herha, which means any low, spreading 

 plant. This plant has been very long in cultivation, and it M-as used in 

 ancient times in some of the sacred ceremonies, the altars and priests' heads 

 being wreathed with verbenas. Celsus speaks of the use of verbenas as a 

 febrifuge in sickness, but it is doubtful whether it was the same plant known 

 now by this name. The verbena is indigenous in the country of Buenos 

 Ayres, and was taken from there to England in 1825, and to this country 

 ten years later, by Eobert Buist, of Philadelphia. Now it is known every- 

 where and is everywhere a favorite, as its cultivation is simple, and its low- 

 creeping habit and pretty flowers will keep it in favor until some new rival 

 comes to take its place. It flourishes best in sandy, rich loam, in garden- 

 beds, and blooms from midsummer till late in autumn, and if potted, cou- 

 tmues in bloom through the winter. Verbenas do not require frequent 

 watering ; they will grow upon very dry ground, and wet in excess mildews 

 and injures them. For pots, take half-and-half leaf-mold and good loam, 

 and add sand enough to give a preponderance of sand in the whole mixture. 

 As it is naturally a running plant, it must be cultivated in that way, and 

 not, as we have seen it, with stiff", upright stems. Nothing is more easy 

 than producing new varieties of colors in verbenas. We have only to grow 

 seedlings and select the best and cast away the remainder. All colors, ex- 

 cept light-blue and yellow, have been obtained. The following are the 

 names of a few of the latest new varieties, with their characteristics an- 

 nexed : 



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

 dark-scarlet, with purplish eye ; a new imported variety. 



Dred. — Flower medium, habit weak, a good bloomer, but of a dull, pur- 

 plish, lake color ; pretty for variety. 



Admiral Dundas. — Foliage and habit good ; color velvety scarlet ; fine. 



Celestial. — A strong, rapidly growing variety, the leaves often two inches 



