May 23, 1908. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
347 
= R Good Bedding Verbena^ 
(Verbena venosa). 
Most of the Verbenas that are favourites 
in gardens are varieties that have been 
improved by the florist for many years 
past. There are, however, several unim¬ 
proved species of Verbena that find their 
way into some gardens year after year. 
We need not recount the names of these 
at present, but V. venosa is one of the 
best of them, and one of the most frequent 
of the unimproved wild species to find a 
place in flower gardening. 
The accompanying illustration shows’a 
patch of this Verbena, which we had 
photographed at the beginning of Septem¬ 
ber last year. It had, however, been 
flowering continuously for a long time be¬ 
fore then, and was still in good condition 
with a wealth of flowers expanded and 
others in bud to follow. The habit of the 
plant is much more upright than the 
florists’ varieties used for bedding pur¬ 
poses, and the leaves are longer and nar¬ 
rower and finger-like. It is, indeed, a 
very distinct species, with a profusion of 
clusters of dark purple flowers. 
Amateurs, as a rule, have so little space 
at their command for flower bedding that 
thev desire to use things in mixture, and 
this is a plan which answers that purpose 
admirably. Indeed, it is more suitable 
for mixing with other plants than for 
growing in a bed by itself. Those who 
have a fine batch of Pelargonium Mrs. 
Pollock, or, more particularly, Flower of 
Spring, will find this Verbena an admir¬ 
able plant for planting between the 
Pelargoniums, for the sake of contrast in 
colour. Besides the above there are, how¬ 
ever, many other variegated Pelargoniums 
that would answer the purpose admirably 
of making a bed alternated with plants of 
this Verbena. Sometimes Violas are 
used for the same purpose, but owing to 
the stiff, upright habit of Verbena venosa, 
it does not get so much spoiled as Violas, 
which get more or less drawn when 
planted amongst taller subjects. 
The florists’ Verbenas require to be pro¬ 
pagated by cuttings at the beginning of 
September every year and kept in a green¬ 
house till spring. In houses that are not 
very freely ventilated, or if overcrowded, 
these Verbenas are very liable to get mil¬ 
dew, and that has alwavs been a source 
of disappointment to those whose accom¬ 
modation is not all that could be desired 
for bedding plants. On the contrary, 
Verbena venosa can readily be raised from 
seeds, thus getting over the difficulty of 
having to keep rooted cuttings during the 
winter. Those who have heat could sow 
at the beginning of March, and soon after 
germination, give it treatment much the 
same as for Stocks, Asters, and half-hardy 
annuals generally. It should be treated 
exactly like a bedding plant during April 
and May till planted out. 
-4~f4- 
For Poultry Keepers. 
Many gardeners keep poultry, and they 
may like to know that the current number 
of 'The Journal of the National Poultry 
Organisation Society” contains several 
articles which should prove very valuable 
to chem. The publishers of the journal 
are Messrs. Simpkin, Marshall and Co., 
of 23, Paternoster Row, London, and the 
price of it sixpence. 
Hippeastrum Purity. 
We have at last realised a pure white 
Hippeastrum. The flowers are of large 
size with broad, overlapping segments and 
pure with the exception of the green 
throat. Each scape bears three to five 
flowers, and as the plant has bloomed in 
1906, 1907 and 1908, and was pure white 
on each occasion, there seems now no fear 
of its reverting in the usual manner with 
this class of flowers. It is very' difficult 
to get out the last trace of red or rose 
streaks, but now this seems to be ac¬ 
complished. First-class Certificate by the 
R.H.S. to Mrs. Burns (gardener Mr. C. 
R. Fielder), North Mvmms Park, Hat¬ 
field. 
Verbena venosa. 
Maclaren and Sons'. 
