Verbascum Verbesina Wigandia. 207 



either migrate into the adjoining shrubbery or disappear 

 altogether. The possession of a fine perennial species 

 must therefore be a desideratum, and such a plant will 

 be found in Verbascum Chaixii. This is fine in leaf and 

 stature, and produces abundance of flowers. The lower 

 leaves grow 18 ins. or 20 ins. long, and the plant when 

 in flower reaches a height of 7 ft. or 8 ft., or even more 

 when in good soil. It is a truly distinct subject, and 

 may, it is to be hoped, ere long be found common in 

 our gardens and nurseries. Like the preceding, but 

 grown under the name V. vernale, is a kind I saw in the 

 Jardin des Plantes at Paris, and introduced into culti- 

 vation in England ; but it is as yet scarce. 



Verbesina gigantea. An ornamental shrub from 

 Jamaica, about 6% ft. high, forming, when young, a 

 very pleasing subject for decorative purposes, its round 

 green stems being covered with large, winged, pinnate 

 leaves of a glistening delicate-green colour, and very 

 elegant outline. Suitable for rich beds or groups ; and 

 should be planted out at the end of May or early in 

 June. V. pinnatifida is a rough, half-shrubby species 

 with a winged stem and woolly oval leaves with lobed 

 or toothed margins; they are larger than those of the 

 preceding species, growing 3 ft. long by 14 ins. broad in 

 the first year. Both species require hothouse treatment 

 in winter, and are multiplied by cuttings in early spring. 

 Young plants are to be preferred for effect, and will 

 be much the better for as warm and sheltered a posi- 

 tion and as rich and light a soil as can be conveniently 

 given them. 



Wigandia maerophylla (caracasana). This noble 



