Periwinkle, or Vinca,-*- There are four hardy species, and 

 a number of varieties of this plant, now cultivated in Ame- 

 rican gardens, all of which are delicate vines, rising to the 

 height of several feet if supported, but when this is not done 

 they will trail on the earth, and will extend so as to form a 

 bed of shoots and foliage for a considerable space around. 

 The different species are the following j 



Vinca miner, or Small Zryrd. The common variety of 

 this species is often called Running Myrtle ; its stalks are 

 green and slender, trail on the ground, and strike root at al- 

 most every joint, but if furnished with support, they attain 

 to three or four feet in height ; the leaves are smooth, of a 

 shining green colour, and oval form ; the flowers are mono- 

 petalous, and come out from the wings of the shoots. Those 

 of the common kind are blue, but there are various varie- 

 ties, as follow : 



Common Blue Periwinkle* 



White Fiowering Periwinkle* 



Purfile Flowering Periwinkle. 



Double Flowering Periwinkle* 



Gold Strifitd Periwinkle, with white and blue 



Jiowers on t/ir same filant. 

 Silver Striked Periwinkle. 

 Silver Striped Broad Leaved Periwinkle. 



These all possess the same general character, and are very 

 neat appendages to the flower garden. 



Vinca herbacea, or Hungarian.-* -This is absolutely her- 

 baceous, as its specific title indicates, and is of more humble 

 and delicate appearance than the foregoing, but may be 

 trained to the height of two feet, or more. It is yet quite 

 rare. 



Vinca major, or Large Leaved This is far larger in all 

 its parts than either of the preceding, the leaves being broad, 

 and the stalks much more vigorous and strong ; the flowers 

 are blue, and also large; it will rise, with support, to the 

 height of five or six feet, and when its numerous shoots are 

 thus trained it is very ornamental. I have noticed, that al- 

 though it possesses many advantages over most other kinds, 

 it is more delicate in winter, and in severe seasons has some- 

 times nearly perished. 



Vinca media, or Intermediate. This, as its title would in- 

 dicate, is of less dimensions than the last named, and of 



