32 
CULTURE OF THE GENUS VERBENA; 
PRINCIPALLY THE VERBENA MELINDRES. 
The V, melindres is one of the most splendid and lively ornaments we possess, 
contributing- more to beautify our flower-g-arden than any other plant introduced into 
this country. " It may truly be called the g-em of the flower-garden." The 
graceful habit of its growth, the surpassing brilliancy of its flowers, combined with 
the ease with which it is preserved and cultivated, sufliciently tend to prove its 
worth ; so bright and dazzling are the flowers when the sun shines, that it is often 
with pain that we approach near to look upon them. In short, its merits cannot 
be too highly appreciated by those who love to admire the richness of nature, when 
given to augment our pleasures and enrich our dwellings ; nor can we, as practical 
men, too assiduously apply ourselves to its cultivation, in order that it may be 
improved and disseminated, and the plant brought to as high a state of perfection 
as human skill can find means to reach. A short time ago, when only a few solitary 
plants existed in this country, the situation they then enjoyed was one the most 
select and favourable, generally occupying a place where its grandeur could be 
readily and advantageously seen. So rare and valuable was it considered, that every 
attention was given to encourage its growth, and to increase the number of plants. 
Experiments were tried, and soon it was found, that to propagate it was 
attended with little difliculty. At length the plants became numerous, consequently 
the worth and beauty of our flower-garden increased. And to render this the more 
perfect, we find whole beds filled with it, and in summer, when in full bloom, nothing 
can surpass the richness it imparts, and the animating efl"ect it gives to all around. 
For the particulars of this mode of culture, see Vol. I. page 173. There is another 
method not generally practised, which we shall now detail, not that it will enhance 
its genuine beauty, but exhibit it with more advantage, particularly as it aff"ords 
the opportunity of moving it from one place to another, as the taste or will of the 
possessor may dictate, and this without injury to the plant or impairing the beauty 
of its blossoms. About the month of August or September, when the plants in 
the beds have grown strong, and the branches have commenced to emit young roots 
at the joints, a selection of the strongest and best rooted ones is made, taking care 
to secure a ball of earth to each ; they are then potted, using good rich compost made 
of rich loam and well rotted dung, into thirty-two sized pols, after this a little water 
is given to each, in order to settle the soil about the roots, they are then moved to 
a favourable part of the greenhouse, and in a short time they will have recovered 
any tardiness that might have been occasioned by shifting ; after this they may be 
moved to any part of the house, or to a cold dry frame or pit, but here they must 
be watered very sparingly, and air admitted freely when the weather is fine, leaving 
them exposed at no time when the atmosphere is unusually damp. In this state they 
will stand the whole of the winter without sustaining any loss. In the spring as 
