PLANTS FOR WINDOW GARDENING. 40 



The first, and for a long time the only variety cultivated, 

 was Verbena melindres, or chamcedrifolia ; but it now 

 appears lost among the new and superior kinds which have 

 been raised from seed. In form, it has been repeatedly 



excelled, but its creeping habit and abundance of bloom 



% 

 must always recommend it, though we doubt if at the 



present time it can be obtained at any of our green-houses, 

 and probably few of our younger cultivators have ever seen 

 this once popular variety. The color is scarlet, and though 

 perhaps equalled, can never be excelled. Many other 

 earlier varieties might be mentioned, but, although interest- 

 ing, it would too much extend the limits of this article. 



Verbena multifida, with lilac purple flowers, was intro- 

 duced from Peru ; Verbena Tweediana, with rose crimson 

 flowers, from Brazil; and from these, and a few other 

 varieties and seedlings, have sprung all the numerous 

 varieties, many hundred in number, which may be found in 

 extensive collections. The credit of introducing this plant 

 into the United States belongs to Robert Buist, of Phila- 

 delphia. About the year 1805, from seed received from 

 Buenos Apes, he raised the first white, pink, and crimson 

 verbenas. The plant soon became generally known, anil 



was every where a favorite ; in the floral world it caused 

 4 



