9IO VERBENA. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



VERBESINA. 



be grouped boldly among shrubs and the 

 larger hardy plants, or naturalised in 

 chalky or sandy banks. France and S. 

 Europe. 



V. pyramidatum (Pyramidal Mullein], 

 from Siberia, with candelabrum - like 

 branches of bright yellow flowers, is a 



Verbascum phoeniceum. 



good plant, perennial on warm rich soils, 

 and effective with its towering stems and 

 huge rosettes of crisped leaves. 



Other Verbascums of interest are mac- 

 rurum, longifoUum, virgatum, Blattaria, 

 niveum, Boerhavi, sinuatum, and orient- 

 ale. 



VERBENA. Beautiful half hardy trail- 

 ing plants which of late have not been 

 popular in gardens, probably on account 

 of the disease that attacks them. Verb- 

 enas bloom profusely till late in the 

 autumn, and if temporarily disfigured, a 

 burst of sunshine quickly restores their 

 beauty. There are many fine varieties, 

 English and foreign, and a pretty bed may 

 be gained by mixing some of these to- 

 gether. The Verbena should have a dry 

 open border, and trenched ground, dressed 

 with spent hot-bed manure and leaf-soil. 



Put out the plants about the end of 

 May, and as they grow peg the shoots 

 securely over the bed, keeping them well 

 thinned. The best way of ensuring good 

 cuttings for spring propagation is to keep 

 a few store plants in pots all the summer, 

 and in the autumn cut them pretty close. 

 Give them a shift then into larger pots of 

 rich soil. Soon afterwards set these store 

 plants in a cool house, or a pit from 

 which frost is excluded. Of late years 

 Verbenas have been most successfully 

 raised from seed sown about the middle of 

 January, in light soil in a warm frame or 

 pit. The seedlings should be pricked out, 

 and when established placed near the 

 glass in a well ventilated pit, in order to 

 induce stout hardy growth. About the 

 end of March they may be potted singly 

 in 2^-in. pots, and a month later potted 

 again, planting them out about the middle 

 of May 2 ft. apart. Verbenas raised from 

 seed need not be cut for propagation, and 

 run little risk of disease or of insects. 

 Wintering the plants is a troublesome 

 matter, but with seedlings this is avoided, 

 and they have vigour to resist the disease. 

 Their wonderful diversity and brilliancy 

 of colour and their many flowers com- 

 bine to make these seedling Verbenas 

 most valuable plants. Seed is sold in 

 colours which come remarkably true 

 scarlet, blue, white, carnation, flaked, 

 and other forms. The scarlet kind is 

 from the old Defiance, and its growth 

 and freedom are marvellous. The com- 

 pact purplish-red kermesina is pleasing 

 and effective. The named kinds will be 

 found in any good nursery catalogue. 



V. yenosa is a perennial kind, 12 to 18 

 in. high, with purple-violet blossoms, 

 hardier than ordinary Verbenas, less apt 

 to mildew, and cheerful even in drenching 

 rains. It is easily wintered, its fleshy 

 roots being stored thickly in boxes, and 

 the young shoots rooted in spring. When 

 the roots are lifted in autumn, place them 

 at once in boxes, which should be stored 

 in a cool place until required for pro- 

 pagation. In borders they will remain 

 for years if protected through the winter. 

 Argentine. 



VEEBESINA. V.encelioides\<-> a half- 

 hardy annual, I to 2 ft. high, with broad 

 clusters of golden-yellow blossoms. Cali- 

 fornia, Texas, and Mexico. V. gigantea 

 from Jamaica is about 65 ft. high, and very 

 pleasing with its round green stems 

 covered with large, winged, glistening, 

 green leaves. It is suitable for beds or 

 groups, and should be planted out early 

 in June. V. pinnatifida is a rough half- 

 shrubby species, with larger leaves. Both 



