HARDY PLANTS. 
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out in May. For late blooming seeds may be sown outdoors 
in May. Grow in warm, dryish sunny borders. Sulphureum 
is a sulphur-yellow variety well worth growing. Daisy order 
(Compositas). 
Veratrum (False Hellebore). — The Veratrums are 
herbaceous perennials, belonging to the Lily order (Liliaceae), 
and handsome plants to grow in shady borders in a rich soil 
containing plenty of leaf-mould or peat. They have bold 
foliage and purplish-green or white flowers borne in large 
panicles in July. The two species generally grown are V. 
album (White Hellebore), a native of the Caucasus, growing 
3 or more feet high, and bearing greenish-white flowers ; and 
V. nigrum (False Hellebore), a native of Central Europe, 
growing 2 to 3ft. high, and bearing blackish-purple flowers 
in racemes 2 to 3ft. long. The roots are poisonous. Plant in 
autumn. Increased by division in October. 
Verbascum (Mullein). — Hardy perennials or biennials, 
belonging to the Foxglove order (Scrophulariacese), and plants 
of handsome and stately growth for border culture. The 
best species are: V. Chaixi (S. Europe), leaves green above 
and woolly beneath ; flowers yellow with purple filaments ; 
summer; 4 to 8ft. ; perennial. V. olympicum (Levant), leaves 
woolly beneath, green above ; flowers golden-yellow ; summer ; 
6 to 10ft. ; biennial. V. phlomoides (S. Europe), leaves green ; 
flowers, bright yellow ; summer and autumn ; 4 to 8ft. ; bien- 
nial. M. phceniceum (S. Europe), leaves green, downy beneath ; 
flowers, purplish ; summer ; 3ft. ; biennial. There are a num- 
ber of hybrids, of which Caledonia, sulphur-yellow and bronze, 
and Miss Willmott, pure white, are showy kinds. The fore- 
going are fine plants to grow singly or in groups in mixed 
borders ; or in shrubbery or woodland borders ; will grow in 
ordinary rich soil. All require to be raised from seed sown 
outdoors in April, afterwards transplanting the seedlings to 
their flowering positions in showery weather. Seed may also 
be scattered in bare spots to ensure a colony of plants. They 
look well grown thus. 
Vernonfa (Ironweed). — Only one species of this genus 
(V. novaeboracensis) is worth growing. This is a hardy 
perennial, growing 5ft. high, with purplish stems, and deep 
crimson-purple flowers borne in autumn. A native of America, 
and a member of the Daisy order (Compositae). A suitable 
plant for the shrubbery border or wild garden. Will grow in 
ordinary soil and should be planted in autumn. Increased by 
division in spring. 
Veronica (Speedwell). — Hardy herbaceous and alpine 
