PLANTS WORTH GROWING 209 
in the garden, and to those who take a delight in 
identifying plants the finding of the correct names 
of a collection of Veronicas will offer an engaging 
task. For just half a dozen of the most distinct 
and pleasing sorts to form the nucleus of a collection, 
or to include in a border of mixed perennials, we 
shall not go far wrong in choosing V. subsessilis, 
frequently represented as a variety of longifolia, 
one of the strongest growers, with long arching 
spikes of rich purple flowers ; V. virginica, a tall, 
erect, white-flowered species of distinct character ; 
V. spicata corymbosa, of dwarf habit with loose 
branching heads of deep blue flowers ; V. longifolia 
rosea, with pretty pink spikes ; V. salicornoides, 
having a shrubby habit like a small Retinospora ; 
and V. gentianoides, with close tufts of glossy leaves 
and upright spikes of china-blue flowers which grow 
about a foot high and are often in bloom by the 
beginning of April. 
Viola. — Of the Florist's or Bedding Violas, so near 
akin to pansies, so much has been written that it 
would be mere pedantry to suppose that a para- 
graph or two in this book would advance in any way 
the widespread popularity and universal culture of 
these wholly indispensable plants. The writings of 
specialists in periodicals and handbooks cover every 
phase of the cult of the Florist's Viola for bedding 
and for exhibition. We will but draw attention to 
some of the charming little species that are among 
the daintiest gems of the garden, and urge our 
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