VERBENA S— VIOLA S. 



213 



cuttings. If pains were taken with the prepara- 

 tion of the plants and the ground for them, there 

 would be fewer failures, and verbenas would be 

 more frequently seen in flower-gardens. It is of 

 the greatest importance that the start be made 

 early in August with healthy flowerless shoots, 

 treating these exactly as recommended for Lantanas 

 (page 209). Keep the stock plants growing slowly in 

 a cool greenhouse or pit through the winter. Give 

 a shift in February and gently force them into 

 active growth. The soft young growths freely 

 produced by healthy plants in the spring, will root 

 quickly in a brisk heat, a gentle hot-bed being 

 recommended, and these in their turn will give 

 more cuttings. As soon as rooted place either 3 inches 

 apart in "geranium boxes," or singly, in 2\ or 3- 

 inch pots, using a rich but not heavy compost. In 

 this manner healthy plants can be provided for the 

 beds. Plant towards the end of May, in good soil, 

 allow plenty of room, mulch with leaf mould or 

 cocoa-nut fibre refuse and keep the soil moist, 

 then growth will be free and flowers plentiful 

 throughout the summer. 



Verbena venosa, nearly hardy, of somewhat loose 

 habit of growth ; height 18 inches ; flowers bluish 

 lilac and freely produced. This species mixes 

 prettily with silver variegated pelargoniums, and 

 is particularly effective in mixture with Veronica 

 Andersoni variegata. Plants may be raised from 

 seed. In the autumn store the long fleshy roots 

 in boxes of soil and keep moist. In February cut 

 them into short two-joint lengths and insert closely 

 half their depth in boxes of light sandy soil, 

 place in heat and every little piece will grow 

 and the plants may be prepared more thinly in 

 boxes for the beds. 



Violas. — These are among the most attractive of 

 summer bedding-plants, but fail if not planted 

 early in April, or if starved at the roots. New 

 varieties are introduced every season, some of them 

 superseding older favourites, but Archie Grant, 

 dark purple ; Ardwell Gem, soft yellow ; Blue 

 Cloud, white, blue edging ; Bullion, deep yellow ; 

 Niphetos and Countess of Hopetoun, white ; Gold- 

 finder, yellow, margined purplish lilac ; and 

 William Kiel, mauve, are of proved excellence. 

 Instructions upon the propagation of the plants in 

 the autumn, and their preparation for the beds, 

 were given on page 189, but it is repeated for 

 emphasis, that Violas are easily spoilt by being 



kept too long crowded in a cutting frame. See 

 Illustrations. They are moisture-loving plants, 



Fig. 105. Viola good foe planting eaely in Apeil. 



and ought to have the benefit of deeply worked, 

 moderately rich ground, and are equally beautiful 

 whether used as edging plants, for carpeting beds, 



Fig. 106. Viola spoiled by retention in fbame till 



THE END OF MAY. 



or for mixing with silver, golden and bronze- 

 's leaved __pelargoniums. 



