CH^r^TER XXI. 
The Verbena, Petunia, Pyrethhum. 
Bedding plants like these are not to bo recommended generally for window 
culture, still window gardeners will have them, and we can only give directions 
for their culture. 
Very great improvements have been made m the last few years in the Ver 
bena, both in the size of the individual flowers and the form of its clusters; also 
in the great variety of its brilliant colors of crimson, scarlet, hlac, bluish pur- 
ple, and all their intermediate shades, with eyes of white, deep crimson, 
rose, purple, and yellow, and still others are striped and spotted. 
They are great lovers of the sun, will not thrive without it, yet will not grow 
in the hot, dry atmosphere of many sitting rooms, but require a cool room dur- 
ing the winter months, and a goodly share of fresh air when the frost is not 
in it. 
When grown as a house plant they must be placed close to the glass, and the 
mercury should not be over 50° during the day and less than 45° at night, until 
March. They do not like moisture in the winter, but should be kept a little 
dry; when you do water, give a good supply, and pour away all that falls into 
the saucer. 
Shower the foliage weekly, to keep it clear of the green fly which injures it 
greatly. The Verbena Mite, which produces the "black rust" upon these 
plants, is also very destructive to them, but plentiful showerings and washings 
will keep it way. 
These plants are particular as to soil, blooming plentifully in sandy or clayey 
loam, if it is enriched with well decayed manure, or liquid stimulants. 
The 3'oung shoots root ver}^ rapidly, and they are to be selected to make plants 
for window gardens. The reason why many fail to keep them through the win- 
ter is, that they attempt to keep the old plants, or layers from them, instead of 
striking cuttings in September or October from entire neAV growth. 
The sulphate of ammonia is an excellent fertilizer for Verbenas, giving the 
foliage a dark grten, healthy appearance, and it is easily prepared and applied. 
Dissolve one ounce of the ammonia in four gallons of warm water; it can be 
given once a week. Keep the soil well stirred up in the pots; this is very essen- 
tial to the healthy growth of all pot plants, for their roots must have air to 
dourish well. 
Tlie cuttings should be pinched back to keep the plants stocky and robust. 
In raising them from seeds, the soil should be very sandy, and kept uniformly 
