348 
THE FLOWER GARDEN; 
in moderately heavy soils the roots will live if protected with 
a mulching' of manure in winter. However, to get good results 
the roots should be lifted in autumn, stored in soil in a frost- 
proof place till early spring, then be placed in heat to yield 
shoots, which can be taken off and inserted as cuttings in 
light soil in heat, potted off, grown on in heat till May, then 
hardened off and planted out late in May. It makes a splendid 
plant for massing in beds or in borders. The flowers stand 
rain well. The garden verbenas are hybrids and varieties 
obtained by selection. They are very varied in colour, and 
excellent plants for growing in masses or as edgings to beds 
in summer. Special mixed strains of these verbenas are sold 
by all seedsmen, and an infinite variety of colours may be 
obtained from them. Named varieties are also to be had, the 
best being Boule de Niege, white, fragrant ; Crimson King, 
crimson ; Ellen Willmot, pink with a white eye ; Lord Brooke, 
scarlet, white eye ; Lovely Blue, blue, fragrant ; Lustrous, 
intense scarlet, white eye; Purple Queen, deep purple; Zulu, 
claret ; and Warley, rich red. These must be perpetuated by 
cuttings taken from old plants cut back in autumn and grown 
on in heat in early spring. The mixed strains have to be 
reared from seed in heat in February, the seedlings placed in 
small pots in due course, grown on in heat till May, then 
hardened off and planted out at the end of the month. Before 
planting out dig the soil deeply and work in plenty of decayed 
manure. Verbenas delight in a rich, deep soil. Plant out 
a foot apart, and, as the shoots grow, peg the shoots down to 
the soil, then later on the plants will be a mass of vivid colour. 
If among the seedlings there is any specially choice kind you 
wish to grow again, lift the plant in September, place it in a 
pot, cut its shoots well back, and store on a shelf in a heated 
house to yield cuttings in spring. 
Zea (Indian Corn or Maize). — The Indian Corn in its 
green-leaved or ordinary form is of no value as a garden plant. 
There is, however, a variety of it with variegated leaves that is 
a very attractive plant which is much used for bedding purposes 
in summer. Plants of it dotted about a bed of violas, tuberous 
begonias, and other dwarf plants, produce a graceful and 
pleasing effect. It has to be raised from seeds sown in gentle 
heat in March, the seedlings being grown in pots till May, 
then hardened off and planted out in June. Nat. Ord. Gra- 
mineae (Grass family). 
Zinnia.. — The Zinnia in its various forms is one of the 
showiest of half-hardy annuals for garden decoration in 
summer. Their brilliant blossoms make a brave display of 
colour when massed in beds or borders. To do this, however, 
