VERBENAS 65 



There is no secret in their cultivation. Keep them in a growing 

 atmosphere, syringe them daily and bear in mind that the white 

 tomato fly appears to be as fond of the Salvia as of the Tomato. 



VERBENAS 



Having suffered a temporary eclipse, there is, we feel confident, 

 a time of resuscitation for this erstwhile popular flower. Its 

 blooms are too brilliant and vivid to be permitted to lag in the 

 background, and though no one can expect it to assume its old 

 importance as a bedding plant all at once, there can be no doubt 

 that, well grown, it will prove an acceptable market plant. 

 Its one weakness is seen in its susceptibility to attacks from 

 mildew, but this can be greatly obviated by correct treatment. 



When the Verbena was at the height of its popularity some 

 decades ago, there was a large nursery firm in Wiltshire that 

 made it one of their specialities, and as their output was very 

 many thousands every year they had their own way of pro- 

 ducing them. Strong heat, abundant moisture, and silver sand 

 used as they used them caused cuttings to root in two or three 

 days. Taking ordinary nursery saucers, they filled them with 

 silver sand, then immersing the filled saucer in a pail of water 

 until it was fully charged, they took the young Verbena shoots 

 and made a cutting of every pair of leaves. Taking this 

 cutting with the finger and thumb they simply pushed it 

 into the water-charged sand, about a score to the 4j-inch 

 saucer. Half the foliage was below the surface. The water was 

 replenished every day, so that literally the cuttings rooted in 

 water, the sand being merely a medium for holding them in 

 position. This, of course, involved the potting off of all the 

 cuttings within a week of insertion, otherwise the water in itself 

 could not afford sufficient sustenance. The propagating pit in 

 which they were stood had a bottom heat of 75 to 80, and 

 the whole thing was intensive and express. For some days 

 after they were potted into 72*8 they were subjected to close 

 treatment in the same house, and not until they had started 

 growing and been pinched back were they taken to a cooler house. 



After its earliest stage the Verbena must have treatment 

 which is cool and moist, for it is when it meets with a dry, hot 



