8 5 2 



VALERIANA. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



VERBASCUM. 



rather large shrub, bearing a pro- ' 

 fusion of small pinkish flowers in dense 

 clusters. The Pennsylvanian Blue Berry 

 (V. pennsylvanicum) is, about October, 

 usually a mass of scarlet and crimson. 

 Though not remarkable for flower or berry, 

 its decaying foliage assumes in autumn bril- 

 liant tints. Canadense, erythrinum, niti- 

 dum, and ovatum, with our native Vitis-idsea, 

 Myrtillus, and uliginosum give interest to 

 a plantation of peat-loving shrubs. V. 

 Vitis-idaea (Red Whortleberry) is a dwarf 

 British Evergreen, with Box-like foliage 

 and clusters of small pale flowers, in 

 summer, followed by berries about the 

 size of Red Currants, borne on wiry 

 stems 3 to 9 in. high. It forms a 

 neat little bush in the rock-garden 

 or in beds of peat soil. The Marsh 

 Cranberry (V. Oxycoccos) is a native of 

 wet bogs in Britain, with slender creeping 

 shoots and drooping dark rose flowers. 

 It requires wetter soil than Vitis-idasa. 

 The American Cranberry (V. macro- 

 carpum), a much larger plant, deserves a 

 place with bog shrubs ; it fruits profusely 

 in beds of peat soil. V. hirsutum is 

 showy late in summer when it becomes a 

 brick-red colour in the leaves, which is 

 most persistent, lasting many weeks. 



VALERIANA ( Valerian}. Hardy 

 perennial and mountain plants, of which the 

 only one worth cultivating in a general way 

 is the golden-leaved variety of V. Phu an 

 effective plant in spring, when its foliage 

 is young ; it is of neat tufted habit, and 

 grows freely in any soil. A few dwarf 

 alpine Valerians are sometimes grown, 

 but they are not attractive. The flowers, 

 too, are unpleasantly scented. Some of 

 the larger species are pretty in rough 

 places in moist land. 



V ALLOT A (Scarborough Lily\V. 

 purpurea is a handsome Amaryllis-like 

 plant, hardy in mild climates. It requires 

 a warm situation in light soil, for 

 instance, at the foot of a south wall, 

 and in such positions it often thrives 

 better than in pots under glass, but 

 the bulbs must be protected during 

 severe frosts. The outdoor culture of 

 this plant deserves more attention than it 

 has hitherto had. Some flowers sent us 

 by Mr. Kingsmill, grown in his garden, 

 were superb. Offsets detached from the 

 parent bulbs. Cape of Good Hope. 



VANCOUVERIA. V. hexandra is a 

 most graceful and distinct plant, 10 to 

 1 8 in. high, with light fern-like leaves and 

 slender spikes of pale flowers, and is a 

 charming plant for the fernery and rock- 

 garden, best in peaty soil. It is absolutely 

 distinct in aspect from any other plant, 



and grown in broad tufts and groups 

 it is charming. Vancouver. Division. 



VENIDIUM. V. caJcndulaceum is a 

 beautiful half-hardy Cape perennial of 

 dwarf spreading growth, with in summer 

 showy yellow Marigold-like blossoms. A 

 good effect is gained by putting out several 

 plants on a warm sunny border. Cuttings 

 inserted in August root freely, and may 

 be potted and kept in the greenhouse 

 through the winter, when they must not 

 have much water, or they will damp off. 

 Seeds germinate freely in a hot-bed in 

 early spring ; both should be planted out 

 in May, in friable soil. 



VERATRUM (White Hellebore]. V. 

 album is a handsome erect pyramidal 

 perennial, 3^ to 5 ft. high, with large 

 plaited leaves and yellowish-white flowers 

 in dense spikes on the top of the stem, 

 forming a large panicle. The leaves are 

 handsome, and most effective when the 

 plant is in small groups, either in the 

 rougher parts of the pleasure ground or 

 by wood walks, thriving in peaty soil. 

 The root is exceedingly poisonous. V. 

 nigrum differs from V. album in having 

 more slender stems, narrower leaves, and 

 blackish-purple flowers. V. viride re- 

 sembles V. album, except that its flowers 

 are green. Division. France. 



VERBASCUM (Mullein}. These -are 

 stately plants, mostly only of biennial 

 duration, but the best are so handsome and 



Verbascum olympicum. 



long flowering as to be quite essential in 

 the garden, where in many cases once 



