ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GARDENING. 
Venus’s Navel-wort (Omplialodes linifolia)—See Ompha- 
lodes. 
Veratrum (false Hellebore).—Ord. Liliaceae. Hardy herbaceous 
perennials. First introduced 1548. Leaves, large, much ribbed, 
green. Roots, creeping ; highly poisonous. 
CULTURE: Soil, light ordinary or peaty. Position, partially shady 
moist borders. Plant, Oct. to April. Propagate by sceds sown in 
oe peaty soil outdoors, March or April; division ‘of roots, Oct. or 
pril. 
SPECIES CULTIVATED: V. album (White Hellebore), white, July, 3 to 4 ft., 
Europe; nigrum (Black Hellebore), purple, summer, 3 ft., Europe; viride (Green 
Hellebore or Indian Poke), green, July, 3 ft., N. America. 
Verbascum (Mullein; Aaron’s Rod).—Ord. Scrophulariacex. 
Hardy biennial & perennial herbs. 
CULTURE OF BIENNIAL SPECIES: Soil, ordinary. Position, 
sunny borders. Sow seeds in light rich soil in sunny position out- 
doors in April, transplanting seedlings when three or four leaves form, 
6in. apart in sunny position until tollowing April; then plant where 
required to flower. 
CULTURE OF PERENNIAL SPECIES: Soil, deep light rich ordi- 
nary. Position, sunny borders. Plant, Oct., Nov., March, or April. Pro- 
pagate by seeds as advised for biennial species; by division of roots 
in March or April. 
BIENNIAL SPLECIES.—V. olympicum (Olympian Mullein), yellow, summer, 6 ft., 
Bithynia. 
PERRENIAL SPECIES: V. Chaixii (Nettle-leaved Mullein), yellow, summer, 3 ft., 
8.W. Europe; nigrum (Dark Mullein), yellow, summer, 3 ft., Europe; phoeniceum 
(Purple Mullein), violet and red, summer, 3 ft., Europe. 
Verbena (Vervain).—Ord. Verbenacee. Hardy biennials & 
greenhouse shrubby & hardy herbaceous perennials. Present race of 
bedding verbenas originally derived from V. teucrioides and other 
species not now cultivated. First introduced 1774. 
CULTURE OF BEDDING VERBENAS: Compost, two parts good 
turfy loam. & one part of equal proportions of decayed mauure, lcaf- 
mould, & sharp silver sand. Position, pots in light greenhouse; or 
cold frames in summer. Pot, Feb. to May. Water freely, April to 
Oct.; moderately afterwards. Apply stimulants two or three times 
weekly to plants in flower. Nip off points of shoots during spring to 
induce bushy growth. Discontinue nipping off points of shoots six 
weeks before plants are required to flower. Young plants struck 
from cuttings or raised from seed best adapted for pot culture. 
Temp., Oct. to March 40° to 50°; March to June 55° to 65°. Shade 
from sun. 
OUTDOOR CULTURE: Soil, good ordinary liberally enriched with 
decayed manure. Position, sunny beds or borders. Plant 12in. apart 
each way in June. Water freely in dry weather. Peg shoots to sur- 
face of bed as they grow, & when they meet each other nip off their 
oints. 
CULTURE OF BIENNIAL SPECIES: Soil, ordinary. Position, 
sunny borders. Sow seeds in light soil in temp. 55° in Feb., harden 
off seedlings in cold frame in April, & plant out 12in. apart in May: 
or where required to grow in April. 
CULTURE OF V. VENOSA: Soil, ordinary rich. Position, sunny 
beds or borders. Plant, May. Lift roots in Oct., store in ordinary 
soil in boxes in frost-proof place until March, then place in temp. 
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