THE CULTURE OF THE GERANIUM. 
317 
Veronica spicata, (Spike-flowered Speed- 
well.) — This has oblong tufted leaves, and 
narrow spicate racemes of blue flowers ; height, 
one foot. Flowers in August. 
*Veronica hybrida, (Hybrid Speedwell.) 
— This has ovate tufted leaves, and dense ob- 
long spicate racemes of blue flowers ; height, 
one foot. Flowers in August. 
*Veronica gentianoides, (Gentian-like 
Speedwell.) — This has broader, glossy, oblong, 
tufted leaves, and loose racemes of pale-co- 
loured flowers ; height, two feet. Flowers 
in June. 
Veronica elegans, (Elegant Speedwell.) 
— The leaves are ovate oblong, tufted 
and spiked racemes of showy rose-coloured 
flowers ; height, one foot and a half. Flowers 
in June, and remains in bloom till the end of 
the summer. 
* Veronica incana, (Hoary Speedwell.) 
— This has lanceolate oblong leaves, and ter- 
minal spicate racemes of blue flowers; height, 
one foot. Flowers in August. 
Vinca herbacea, (Herbaceous Periwin- 
kle.) — A procumbent plant, with oblong lan- 
ceolate leaves, and purplish blue salver-shaped 
blossoms ; height, six inches Flowers in 
June and July. 
Viola odorata, (Sweet-scented Violet.) — 
There are a great number of species of Viola, 
ail dwarf, and mostly pretty plants. There 
are, however, none more interesting than the 
common Sweet Violet, in its several varieties ; 
there are purple, white, and blue, both single 
and double, of each ; and a beautiful large pale 
blue, double variety, called the Neapolitan. 
The Pansy is the offspring of some other 
species of Viola. 
ASTRAGALUS MONSPESSULANUS. 
This belongs to rather an extensive genus 
of Leguminosas, some of which are very hand- 
some. Most of them are hardy, some Annual, 
others Perennial. This is an evergreen trail- 
ing Perennial, with a purple flower, very 
much concealed by the foliage. It is indige- 
nous in the south of France, and said to be 
also to the mountains of Switzerland. It is 
not so showy as many of the same family ; and, 
it is said, will only propagate from seed. This 
we doubt ; but as seed will ripen in the open 
ground in this country, there is no difficulty 
about it. The plant will grow in almost any 
soil, and requires no particular culture ; merely 
sowing the seed on the land or border, and 
either thinning it out, or planting it out, 
where it is to bloom, We do not value it at 
all, but there are those who do. 
THE CULTURE OF THE GERANIUM, 
AS BROUGHT TO MARKET, AND ALSO WITH SINGLE TRUSSES OF BLOOM. 
The wonderful difference between the 
Geranium, as brought into the flower -markets, 
and as exhibited for prizes, would induce 
some to think that the same variety, dif- 
ferently grown, were not the identical sort ; 
yet the plants, which are grown by tens of 
thousands to furnish the different towns, are 
always pleasing, and the blooms are frequently 
much better in their individual trusses, than 
those with which so much pains have been 
taken. It is almost questionable whether 
there may not, some day, be an alteration in 
the mode of showing, so as to produce indi- 
vidual trusses in finer condition, and show 
