238 
THE FLOWER GARDEN. 
perennials, belonging to the Foxglove order (Scrophularia- 
ceae). There are also several shrubby species which are referred 
to elsewhere. The alpine species, which are of tufted or trail- 
ing habit, and suitable for rockery culture, are : V. repens, a 
Corsican trailing species, bearing pale blue flowers in May ; 
V. pectinata rosea, a Syrian species, bearing rosy flowers in 
May, and growing 2in. high ; V. satureoides, a native of Dal- 
matia, growing 3m. high, and bearing blue flowers in May ; 
V. incana, a Russian species, with silvery-grey foliage, grow- 
ing 6in. high, and bearing violet flowers in summer ; V. 
saxatilis, a Scottish species, growing 6in. high, and yielding 
bright blue flowers in July ; and V. Teucrium, dubia, or pros- 
trata, a dwarf kind bearing blue flow'ers in early summer. 
The latter and V. repens make splendid edging plants for 
borders or dry banks, the evergreen foliage forming a dense 
carpeting of growth. All will succeed in good ordinary soil in 
sunny positions. The taller kinds, which are suitable for 
sunny borders and ordinary good soil are : V. gentianoides 
(Caucasus), greyish-blue, June, ift. ; V. gentianoides alba, 
white; and V. gentianoides fol. variegatus, variegated foliage. 
V. longifolia (C. Europe), lilac, white, rose or purple, Aug., 
2 to 4ft. ; V. longifolia rosea, rose, excellent for cutting ; V. 
longifolia subsessilis, purple-blue; V. longifolia alba, white. 
V. paniculata (Syn. V. amethystina), a native of S. Europe ; 
blue; summer; 2 to 3ft. V. spicata (Britain), blue; July and 
Aug., 12 to i8in. ; V. spicata hybrida, purple, lavender or rose. 
S. Teucrium, pale blue; summer; 8 to min. All the foregoing 
species may be planted in autumn or spring. Increased by 
seeds sown outdoors in April ; division in autumn or spring. 
Vinca. (Periwinkle). — Hardy perennials of a trailing habit 
of growth, belonging to the Nat. Ord. Apocynaceae. V. 
herbacea, a native of Eastern Europe, is a herbaceous species 
the shoots of which die down in winter. It bears purple flowers 
in spring and early summer, and is suitable for rockery culture. 
V. major, a native species, is a vigorous grower w'ith woody 
stems, and bears purple flowers in spring. Alba is a white 
variety, and elegantissima a variegated form with leaves 
marbled with creamy-white. V. minor (Lesser Periwinkle) is 
a small growing native species with violet flowers, and pur- 
purea, purple ; purpurea fl. pi., purple, double-flowered ; and 
variegata, with golden or silver-tinted leaves, are varieties of 
it. The Periwinkles are suitable plants for growing under the 
shade of trees, woodland borders, shady borders or rockeries. 
The variegated ones, too, make good edging or rockery plants. 
Plant in autumn or spring in good ordinary soil. Increased by 
division in autumn or spring. 
Viola (Violet; Pansy; Heartsease). — The Viola family is 
