DREER'S GARDEN CALENDAR. 43 



THE VERBENA. 



The Verbena is now our most useful and popular bedding plant ; it 

 is within the means of all, yet for want of the proper soil many fail to 

 grow it in perfection. There is no plant, probably, that requires a 

 more frequent change of soil to grow it in perfection. It requires a 

 fresh, sandy loam, enriched with well-rotted manure. Sods from a 

 pasture field thrown up with cow manure, and well-rotted before using, 

 we have found the best. A simple plan, when it is not practicable to 

 renew the entire bed, is to dig holes about one foot square and deep, 

 wherever a plant is desired, and fill up with fresh soil, as above named. 

 Therein plant the Verbenas, mulching in dry weather with a suitable 

 material, as watering them without mulching will generally do more 

 harm than good, and perfect success will crown your efforts. If a fine 

 fall bloom of the Verbena is desired, it will be necessary to make a 

 second planting about the beginning of August. Plants for this 

 purpose may be obtained by layering shoots in small pots sunk in the 

 ground alongside the parent plant, and watered daily in dry weather. 

 They will be ready for transplanting in about three weeks. 



We have prepared two Lists of 13 varieties each ; the first is particu- 

 larly for the Amateur, and comprises the newest and choicest varieties 

 in cultivation, but require a somewhat higher cultivation than the 

 second List, which are also selected for their especial merit, and par- 

 ticularly for their free and robust habit from a very large collection, 

 and cannot fail to give satisfaction. 



j^^Those marked with a (D.) are our own seedlings. 

 List No. 1. $1.50 for the Set. 

 Dr. Sankey.— Purple-shaded violet, large white eye. 

 Blushing Bride.— Blush, with a deep rosy crimson eye. 

 King of the Verbena.— Amaranth rose, white eye, very large. 

 Mrs. Moore. — Dark violet, white eye. 

 Frince of Wales.— Blush, splashed and striped with purplish crimson, 



quite a novelty. 

 Gov. Buckingham.— Purplish-maroon, white eye. 

 Gen' I Putnam.— Deep rosy scarlet, white eye. 

 Belle of Hartfo rd. —Violet purple, clear white eye. 

 Vivid, (D.)— Scarlet, fine white eye. 



Solferino, (D.)— Rosy carmine, lemon eye, splendid habit. 

 Mrs. Hadermann, (D.)— Rosy scarlet, large white eye. 

 Louisa, (D.)— Lilac shaded with crimson, white eye, very large. 

 Magenta, (D.) — Dark violet crimson, white eye. 



List No. 2. $1.00 per dozen. 

 Mrs. Mayrant, (D.)— Deep claret, fine white eye. 

 Mrs, H. Ingersoll, (D.)— Indigo blue, white centre. 



