COMPANION TO THE FLORAL MAGAZINE. 
41 
BEDDING VERBENAS. 
Notwithstanding the very large number of varieties contained in the 
different catalogues of this useful bedding-plant, and the statement put 
forth every year of new and valuable kinds suitable for bedding, I think 
that we are very deficient indeed in the number of really first-rate sorts. 
If we take, e.g., Purple King as the pattern of a bedding Verbena, which 
I humbly conceive it to be, I would ask how many varieties are there of 
other colours of the same character ? and the answer must be, very few 
indeed. In order that a Verbena should be suitable for this purpose, it 
ought to be short-jointed, not too vigorous in growth, and free in flower¬ 
ing : it will then cover the bed with bloom, instead of, as is too often 
the case, being quite bare in the centre of the bed. Another point to be 
remembered is, that all parti-coloured or eyed flowers are unsuitable for 
this purpose, that is, when the strict rules of colouring are carried out : 
the eye detracts from the beauty of the bed, if it be of a different colour; 
thus, a blue with a white eye, or scarlet with yellow eye, are inadmissible 
as really good bedding-plants; but a blue with a deep shade of the same 
colour in the centre, or a scarlet with very dark centre of the same hue, 
would be effective. Bearing these points, then, in view, I will give what 
seem to me, after many years’ experience, the best of the bedding kinds 
under their various colours :— 
White. 
Mrs. Holford: a large and vigorous grower; the colour is a greenish- 
white, and not sufficiently pure. 
Snowflake : a purer white, and better than the preceding. 
White, with dark centre. 
Some admire these for beds, but I think they are wanting in effect. 
The best are— 
I 
Fairest of the Fair : white, with violet eye. 
Earl of Shaftesbury : white, with crimson eye. 
Viscount Emlyn: white, with crimson eye. 
Peach. 
Great Eastern: a large tinted flower, and effective. 
Salmon. 
Ida : a pretty rosy-tinted flower, with a very smooth and even truss. 
Reddish-scarlet. 
General Simpson : a very large, old, but fine soft-looking variety. 
Scarlet. 
Defiance: a very large, old, and good flower. 
Foxhunter : very fine, good trusses; light eye. 
Lord Raglan: an old, but very effective flower; a beautiful soft carmine- 
scarlet. 
