'250 



NEW ENGLAJST) FARMER. 



May 



THE VERBENA. 



This beautiful flower, well represented in 

 the above engraving from Washhuni's Ama- 

 teur Cultiva^or''s Guide, is deservedly a favor- 

 ite both for house and garden culture, Mr. 

 B^eok gives the following description in his 

 ''Book of Flowers y After mentioning its 

 firf>t introduction of the white, crimson and 

 pink varieties into this country from Buenos 

 Ayres, by Mr. Robert Buist, of Philadelphia, 

 about the year 1835, Mr. Breck says : — 



From these have sprung all the numerous 

 varitities, many hundred in number, now in our 

 collections. In these varieties may be found 

 every color except yellow, and even this color 

 in its lightest shades, is sometimes seen in the 

 eyes of some of the sorts. We now have 



crimson, scarlet, rose, white, lilac, bluish pur- 

 ple in all their shades, with eyes of purple, 

 ciimson, rose, white, or straw color, and also 

 a number of striped or spotted sorts. No 

 plants are more more generally cultivated, or 

 more eagerly sought after, than this beautiful 

 family. I sometimes wonder how a flower- 

 garden could be considered passable without 

 the Verbena. The habits of all are similar, 

 naturally prostrate creeping plants, taking 

 root freely wherever the stems come in con- 

 tact with the ground, and sending forth innu- 

 merable clusters of their many hued, brilliant 

 flowers . from June to November. 



The Verbena is kept with difliculty through 

 the winter, except in the green-house or in 

 warm rooms; unless kept growing, it will per- 

 ish. It cannot, therefore, be kept even in a dry 

 cellar, and it is not hardy enough to stand the 



