3 1 Q Encyclopaedia of Gardening 



Vaccinium, Bilberry, Cranberry, Blackberry, Huckleberry, 

 Whortleberry (vac-cm-ium. Ord. Vacciniaceae). A large genus 

 of hardy shrubs and small trees, producing edible berries. Corym- 

 bbsurn (Botanical Magazine, t. 3433), white flowers and bluish- black 

 berries; Myrtillus, rose flowers and blue fruits, the Bilberry, Black- 

 berry, or Whortleberry; and Vitis-Idaea, pink flowers and red 

 fruits, the Cowberry or Flowering Box, are the best known. All 

 are deciduous except the last, which is evergreen. They thrive in 

 sandy peat. Propagation is by seed in spring. 



Valerian, Greek, Polemonium caeruleum. 

 Valerian, Red, Centranthus ruber. 



Valeriana, Valerian (valeria-na, after Valerius, who used it medi- 

 cinally. Ord. Valerianeae). Closely allied to Centranthus. Dioica, 

 rose, is the Marsh, and officinalis, pink, the Common Valerian or All- 

 heal; they flower in summer. Ordinary soil. Propagation by 

 seed or division. 



Vallisneria spiralis (vallisne-ria, after Signer Vallisneri. Ord. 

 Hydrocharideae) . An interesting half-hardy aquatic, with grass- 

 like leaves and white flowers in summer. The system of fertilisation 

 is unusual. The male flowers are at the base of the plant, in the 

 water, from which they rise to the surface. The female flowers 

 come to the surface when ready for fertilisation, after which process 

 they are lowered to the bottom of the water by the spiral contraction 

 -of the stems. The plant may be grown in a tub in a winter tempera- 

 ture of about 45. Propagation is by seeds or division. 



Vallota, Scarborough Lily (vallo-ta, after M. P. Vallot. Ord. 

 Amaryllideae) . A popular greenhouse bulb, with bright red flowers 

 in summer, Vallota purpurea grows about 2 ft. high, and makes a 

 nice greenhouse or window plant. It should be potted in early 

 summer, in equal parts of loam and leaf soil, with a good deal of 

 sand, but annual repotting should be avoided; it is better to top- 

 dress and give liquid manure. Propagation is by offsets. Magni- 

 fica and major are large varieties. A great deal of water will be 

 needed in summer. Syn. Amaryllis purpurea (Botanical Magazine, 

 t. 1430). 



Vanda (van-da, the Sanskrit name. Ord. Orchidaceae). A 

 large genus of hothouse Orchids, mostly with erect stems, thick, re- 

 curved leaves, and flowers in racemes. Caerulea is a beautiful 

 species, with large pale blue flowers in autumn, height 2 to 3 ft.; 

 Fowleriana is a fine variety of it. Sanderiana, pink, yellow, and 

 crimson, 3 ft., summer, immense flowers, is a splendid plant, of 

 which albata is a good white ground variety. Suavis, various 

 colours, 6 to 8 ft., autumn, is very fragrant (see the Botanical Maga- 

 jsine, t. 5174); Chatsworth, flava, and rubra are three varieties. 

 Teres, white, rose, and magenta, 3 to 6 ft., spring (Bot. Mag., t. 41 14), 

 is popular. Other good species are Amesiana, insignis, Kimbal- 

 liana, and tricolor. They like a mixture of fibrous peat and 

 Sphagnum over abundance of crocks. They enjoy shade when 

 making their growth, except teres, and likewise abundance of root 



