234 
THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
POT CULTURE OP THE VERBENA. 
ET A CONTRIBUTOR. 
H 1ERBENAS merit a place, and most justly, among 
popular florists’ flowers, and perhaps a few hints on their 
cultivation in pots may he acceptable to those who have 
not hitherto adopted that mode of culture. I know of 
no plant more useful or ornamental as a pot plant, for 
decorating the greenhouse during the summer season, when the 
proper inmates of that structure are enjoying the open air. If we 
take into consideration its graceful habit, the variety and brilliancy 
of its colours, which offer hues for every taste, and, above all, the 
lengthened period it continues to produce its lovely blossoms, it is 
unrivalled, and ought to be more generally grown in pots as speci- 
mens, more especially now that the numerous varieties are so much 
improved, both in form and colour. This present season has been 
productive of some gems of the first class ; and if the verbena con- 
tinues to be improved as it has been during these few years past, I 
have no doubt that the time is not far distant when it will form one 
of the leading features of our floral exhibitions. I do not know if 
my system of propagating this favourite be new ; but as it is 
simple, certain, and expeditious, it may be as well to state how I 
proceed from the commencement. 
I fill shallow pans (such as are used for placing under flower- 
pots) to within a quarter of an inch of the top with silver sand, and 
pour in water sufficient just to cover the sand. I then make the 
cuttings in the usual way, and push them into the wet sand, put the 
labels to them, and place them in a hotbed frame where the heat 
ranges from 65° to 70°, always keeping the sand wet. The advan- 
tages to be realized by propagating the verbena in this way are, 
that the cuttings never require to be shaded in the brightest sun- 
shine, consequently the young plants are not drawn up long and 
lanky ; the cuttings never stop growing from the time they are put 
in until they are ready to pot off, which is in about six or seven days, 
when they may be drawn out of the wet sand, with a bunch of roots, 
without injuring a single fibre. The best time to commence opera- 
tions for growing specimen verbenas in pots is Febrnary, or as soon 
as vegetation commences for the season. It is desirable to pot a 
few of the best autumn-struck plants for the sake of early bloom ; 
but they never make such handsome specimens, nor continue so long 
in good health, as plants raised from cuttings in spring. As soon 
as the cuttings are well rooted, they should be potted into three-inch 
pots, and placed in a gentle heat for a few days, until they are estab- 
lished in the pots ; then top them, and harden them by degrees. 
Never allow them to remain long after they begin to grow, or they 
will form long, naked stems. As soon as the pots are filled with roots, 
shift into six-inch ones, and from these into eleven-inch pots. 
During the growth of the plant, all shoots must be stopped in order 
to cause the plants to grow bushy ; and never allow them to flower 
until the plant is properly formed, and has as many leading shoots 
