VALLOTTA. 



VASES. 



" the male flowers detach themselves from 

 their stalks and rise to the surface, on 

 which they float like little white bubbles. 

 After the pollen has been distributed over 

 the stigmas, the male flowers wither, and 



COMMON VALERIAN. 



the spiral stalks of the females coil up 

 again, so as to draw the seed-vessel under 

 the water, that it may ripen at the bottom 

 and burst when just in the proper place to 

 deposit its seeds. Nothing can be more 

 beautiful than the whole arrangement ; 

 and nothing can show more strikingly the 

 admirable manner in which the economy 

 of nature is carried on." This plant is 

 very suitable for aquaria. 



Valletta (nat. ord. Amarydilleae). 



A beautiful lily, better known as the 

 Scarborough Lily than by its botanical 

 name, Valletta purpurea. It is a hand- 

 some bulbous plant, and is suitable for 

 greenhouse culture. The bulbs should be 

 planted in June or July in large deep pots, 

 with the crown of the bulb at least 6 

 inches below the surface of the soil in a 

 compost composed of equal parts of good 

 fibrous loam, leaf mould, and sand. The 

 bulbs should be planted firmly and left 

 undisturbed to establish themselves. They 



require water and even liquid manure 

 when growing and in flower. 



Vanilla (nat. ord. Orchida'cess). 



This little creeping parasite will flower 

 best in the strong damp heat of the orchid 

 house. It throws out roots at every joint, 

 and requires plenty of pieces of bark, &c., 

 to which to attach itself. 



Variegated Leaves, Plants with. 



Much attention has been paid of late 

 years to plants of variegated foliage, and 

 certainly they are a great success. Few 

 things are more attractive than the dif- 

 ferent sorts of caladiums, begonias, Coleus 

 alocasea, &c. For a plant to be truly 

 variegated, that is, able to retain its 

 different colours under propagation, the 

 edges of the leaves must be well defined. 

 Plants with parti -coloured leaves are fre- 

 quently met with which are mere sports, 

 and which revert to their original hue if 



VALLISNERIA. 



any attempt is made to increase the plants 

 by cuttings, &c. 



Vases. 



These may be introduced into pleasure 

 grounds, especially upon terraces, with 



