ON TREES AND SHRUBS. 



453 



North American species, and was introduced upwards of seventy 

 years ago. 



Veronica. — This is an extensive genus, consisting of about 

 1 60 species, the headquarters of which is New Zealand. 

 Unfortunately they are not thoroughly hardy throughout the British 

 Isles, although in the warmer parts they flourish out of doors. 

 They are not particular as regards soil, so long as it is well- 

 drained, a water-logged condition being the least satisfactory. 

 They are neat-growing shrubs, and succeed well near the sea, 

 and some of them, like V. cupressoides, are well adapted for the 

 rock garden. Those here mentioned are some of the best sorts 

 for general planting. V. Traversii is not only the best known, 

 but it is also one of the most distinct, hardy, and beautiful of 

 New Zealand Veronicas. It grows about 4ft. high, and its erect 

 stems are clothed with deep green narrow leaves arranged in 

 opposite pairs, and its spikes of light or mauve flowers are pro- 

 duced in August. It is useful for winter bedding, and on account 

 of its neat habit is well adapted for window-boxes, buxifolia is a 

 very neat-growing kind of slender habit, with distinct rich green 

 Box-like leaves. Andersoni variegata is a pretty silver variegated 

 dwarf-habited shrub, better adapted for growing in pots for 

 conservatory decoration than for planting in the open air, unless 

 as an edging to beds, or similar positions, for summer effect. 

 speciosa is a compact, vigorous grower, with large glossy green 

 leaves, and produces very freely large racemes of purple flowers. 

 chathamica is a low-spreading bush, with dark purple flowers, and 

 deserving of a place in the rock garden. LyaUii is worthy of 

 note ; it is slender in growth, and its racemes of lilac-coloured 

 flowers are borne with great freedom, ligustrifolia is another 

 pretty sort, and bears an abundance of white flowers, pinguifolia^ 

 a dwarf compact-habited kind, is very hardy, with small 

 glaucous-grey leaves ; it is of free, bushy growth, and useful as 

 an edging to beds, glauco-ccerulea forms a pretty, much-branched 

 bush of dwarf habit, conspicuous for its dark stems and 

 glaucous leaves. amplexicaulis is an abundant blossomer ; the 

 smooth leaves are glaucous-grey, and the flowers white, salicifolia, 

 with its long narrow leaves and long racemes of white flowers, are 

 both distinct and handsome. Blue Gem is of good habit and free 

 growth ; its dense spikes of deep blue flowers are effective. Purple 

 Queen is a cross between V. Andersoni and V. Traversii, and flowers 

 freely ; its habit is dwarf and bushy, and the Box-like leaves are 

 glossy green. The purplish-violet flowers are borne on stout spikes 

 in September. La Seduisante is another excellent variety, with 

 large spikes of deep purple flowers ; its bronze-green leaves 

 are very beautiful, too. White Star is a dwarf, compact, free- 

 growing, and floriferous variety, with thick, ovate, pale green 

 leaves, broadly margined with creamy-yellow. A warm soil and 

 sunny spot are necessary to get the true leaf colour. 



