Encyclopaedia of Gardening 3 1 1 



and atmospheric moisture; little water should be given when 

 growth is complete. Propagation is by basal growths, with roots 

 attached. There are several hybrid Vandas, for which see a modern 

 work on Orchids. 



Vegetable Marrow. See Kitchen Garden. 



Vegetable Garden. See Kitchen Garden. 



Veltheimia (veltheim-ia, after Herr Veltheim. Ord. Liliaceae). 

 Greenhouse bulbs, only one species of which, viridifolia (syn. Aletris 

 capensis Botanical Magazine, t. 501), is much grown; it has thick, 

 shining green leaves and does well in a room window. Sandy loam 

 suits. Propagation is by offsets. 



Venidium (venid-ium. Ord. Compositae). A small genus, the 

 best-known member of which is calendulaceum (syn. fugax), a hardy 

 annual with yellow and black flowers in summer, height about 

 1 8 ins. For culture, see Annuals. 



Ventilation. See Greenhouse. 



Venus 's Fly-trap, Dionaea muscipula. 



Venus 's Looking-glass, Specularia Speculum. 



Venus 's Navelwort, Omphalodes verna. 



Veratrum, False Hellebore (vera-trum, from vere, truly, and ater r 

 black, in allusion to the colour of the roots. Ord. Liliaceae). 

 Hardy herbaceous perennials. Album, white flowers in summer, 

 3 to 5 ft.; nigrum (Botanical Magazine, t. 963), dark purple; and 

 viride, green, summer, 3 to 4 ft. (syn. album viride), are the most 

 grown. The White Hellebore powder used for killing caterpillars 

 is prepared from album. Good loamy soil or friable clay is liked. 

 Propagation is by seed or division in spring. 



Verbascum, Mullein (verbas-cum, from barbascum, bearded, in 

 allusion to the stamens. Ord. Scrophularineae) . Hardy biennials 

 and herbaceous perennials or sub-shrubs, mostly with yellow flowers 

 in summer. Chaixii, 3 ft.; cupreum, coppery, 3 ft. (Botanical 

 Magazine, t. 1226); olympicum, 5 ft., a biennial; and phoeniceum 

 (Bot. Mag., t. 885), violet, 3 ft., several varieties, are the best species. 

 Ordinary soil. Propagation by seeds, and in the case of the peren- 

 nials also by division in spring. 



Verbena, Vervain (verbe-na, from the Celtic Ferfain. Ord. Ver- 

 benaceae). Beautiful and fragrant flowers, once specialised by 

 florists and grown in pots under varietal names, but now generally 

 restricted to the flower garden, and grown from mixed seed. Only 

 two of the many species are grown to any extent, and they are: 

 (i) Aubletia, mauve, a hardy biennial growing about a foot high, 

 and flowering in summer; compacta and rosea are varieties (see the 

 Botanical Magazine, t. 308); (2) venosa (Bot. Mag., t. 3127), rosy- 

 lilac, i ft., summer, a half-hardy herbaceous perennial, much used 

 in beds and borders on account of its free blooming and distinct 

 colour. The hybrid Verbenas are best treated as tender annuals, 

 being raised from seed in heat in winter, pricked off in boxes, 

 hardened, and planted out 18 ins. apart in early summer; they will 



