Gardening For The Million Part 29

Trollius Altaiense (_Globe Flower_).--A pretty, hardy herbaceous plant, with very handsome foliage. It likes a light but moist soil, may be increased by seed or by dividing the root, and flowers in May.

Height, 9 in. to 2 ft.

Trollius Asiaticus.--A very pretty herbaceous plant, suitable for the border. It may be raised from seed sown in the autumn, and grown on in light, moist soil. The plant is hardy and flowers in May. Height, 1 ft.

Tropaeolums--

_JARRATTI_ (_scarlet, orange, and black_) are remarkable for a slender and graceful growth. Well adapted for covering wire globes, trellises, etc.

_LOBBIANUM_ (_various colours_).--Elegant dwarf climbers, suitable either for the conservatory or for outdoor culture. They may also be used for bedding if planted thinly and kept pegged down; or may be grown in window-boxes. Height, 6 ft.

_PENTAPHYLLUM_ (_red_) is slender and graceful, and an elegant climber.

_POLYPHYLLUM_ (_yellow_) succeeds best against a south wall. It is hardy, has rich abundant glaucous foliage, and is a particularly fine climber.

_SPECIOSUM_ (_scarlet_).--Of wild, graceful, luxuriant and slender growth. Fine for covering walls and fences, festooning arches, etc.

Plant at the beginning of October in an eastern aspect or at the base of a north wall, the soil and atmosphere being moderately moist. Bury the roots 4 in. deep.

_TUBEROSUM_ (_yellow and red_) is quite hardy, and may be planted in any situation.

Generally a light, rich soil is most suitable. The greenhouse varieties may be increased by cuttings placed in sandy soil under gla.s.s. The tuberous-rooted kinds should be taken up in winter and kept in sand till spring, when they may be planted in a sheltered part of the garden. The annuals merely require to be sown in the open in spring. They flower in July, August, and September. Height, 1 ft. to 10 ft. (_See also_ "Canary Creeper.")

Trumpet Flower.--_See_ "Bignonia."

Tuberose.--Plant the bulbs in January in a mixture of sandy loam and rotten dung, or leaf-mould, using a small pot for each bulb. Plunge them in a hotbed, taking care that the temperature does not fall below 60 degrees, and withhold water until the foliage appears, when a moderate amount should be given. When the pots are full of roots, s.h.i.+ft the plants into larger ones, and grow on in a house with a uniform high temperature and moist atmosphere. For a succession of bloom place the roots in a cold frame and cover with cocoanut fibre until growth begins, then remove the fibre, water moderately, and transfer the most forward plants to the conservatory. Bloom may be had all the year round by planting in succession from September to June.

Tulips.--Drainage may be considered as the chief means of success in the cultivation of these showy spring flowers. The soil they like best is well-rotted turf cut from pasture land and mixed with a moderate amount of sand, but they will thrive in any ground that is well drained. The bulbs should be planted during October and November about 3 in. deep and 5 in. apart, either in lines or groups, and they retain their bloom longest in a shady situation. As soon as the leaves begin to decay the bulbs may be taken up, dried, and stored away, keeping the colours separate. For pot-culture the single varieties are best.

Put three bulbs in a 5-in. pot and six in a 6-in. one, and treat in the same manner as the Hyacinth. They may, if desired, be forced as soon as the shoots appear. When required to fill vases, etc., it is a good plan to grow them in shallow boxes, and transfer them when in flower to the vases or baskets. By this method exact.i.tude of height and colouring is ensured. Tulips are divided into three cla.s.ses: (1) Roses, which have a white ground, with crimson, pink, or scarlet marks; (2) Byblomens, having also a white ground, but with lilac, purple, or black marks; and (3) Bizarres, with a yellow ground having marks of any colour.

Tunica.--Same treatment as "Dianthus."

Turkey's Beard.--_See_ "Xerophyllum."

Turnips.--To obtain mild and delicately-flavoured Turnips a somewhat light, sandy, but deep, rich soil is necessary. For a first crop sow the Early White Dutch variety in February or the beginning of March on a warm border. For succession sow Early s...o...b..ll at intervals of three weeks until the middle of July. For winter use sow Golden Ball, or other yellow-fleshed kinds, early in August. Thin each sowing out so that the bulbs stand 9 in. apart. To ensure sound, crisp, fleshy roots they require to be grown quickly, therefore moist soil and liberal manuring is necessary, and the ground kept free from weeds. If fly becomes troublesome, dust the plants with quicklime early in the day, while the dew is on them, and repeat the operation as often as is necessary.

Tussilago Fragrans (_Winter Heliotrope_).--A very fragrant hardy perennial, flowering in January and February. It will grow in any good garden soil and bears division. Height, 1 ft.

Twin Flower.--_See_ "Bravoa."

U

Ulex Europaeus Flore Pleno (_Double Furze_).--This elegant, hardy, evergreen shrub likes a rich, sandy soil, and may be increased by cuttings planted in a shady border and covered with a hand-gla.s.s.

Height, 5 ft.

Umbilicus Chrysanthus.--This little Alpine plant should occupy a warm, sheltered, and dry situation, and be protected with an overhead screen in wet seasons. The soil it most enjoys is a mixture of peat and coa.r.s.e sand. Its proc.u.mbent stalks emit roots. This new growth may be transplanted in the spring or early summer months. Height, 6 in.

Uvularia.--Beautiful hardy perennials, producing drooping flowers from May to July. They succeed best in a light, sandy soil, and may be increased by dividing the roots. Height, 1 ft.

V

Vaccineum Myrtillus and V. Uliginosum.--Attractive deciduous shrubs.

They require to be grown in peat or very sandy loam. In April or May they produce flowers. They can be increased by dividing the creeping roots. Height, 1-1/2 ft.

Vaccineum Vitis-Idaea (_Red Whortleberry_).--A neat native shrub which, with its flowers and cl.u.s.ters of bright red berries, is very attractive in autumn. A rich, light, sandy soil, moist but well drained, is necessary, and the position should be sunny so as to ripen the berries. It may be increased at any time by division. It flowers from May to October. Height, 9 in.

Valeriana.--An ornamental hardy perennial. It will succeed in any garden soil, and merely requires the same treatment as ordinary perennials. It is readily increased by dividing the roots, and produces its flowers in July. Height, 1 ft.

Vegetable Marrow.--Sow in pots during March or April, and place in a cuc.u.mber frame or on a hotbed, and cover with a hand-gla.s.s. Harden off, and plant out about the third week in May in ground previously prepared with a heavy dressing of good stable or farmyard manure, protecting the plants at night for the first week or so with a handgla.s.s or large flower-pot. Do not allow the roots to feel the want of water, and keep a sharp look-out for slugs. Seed may also be sown in May in the open. The best way of proceeding in this case is to dig a pit 2 ft. deep and the same in width, fill it with fermenting manure, and put 1 ft. of light mould on top. Let it remain for a week so that the soil may get warm, then sow the seed, and cover it with a hand-gla.s.s. Train the shoots so that they may have plenty of room, and pinch off the tops when the plant has attained its desired length.

Venidium.--Hardy annuals, which are best raised from seed sown early in March on a slight hotbed, and grown in turfy loam, or loam and peat. They bloom in May. Height, 1 ft.

Venus's Car.--_See_ "Dielytra."

Venus's Looking-Gla.s.s (_Specularia Speculum_).--A pretty hardy annual, bearing a profusion of Campanula-like flowers in July. Suitable for beds, pots, hanging baskets, or rock-work. It flourishes most in a compost of sandy loam and peat. The seeds are best sown in autumn and wintered in a greenhouse, but they may be raised on a hotbed early in spring. Cuttings of the young wood planted under gla.s.s root freely.

Height, 9 in.

Venus's Navel Wort.--A charming hardy annual for rock-work. The seed should be sown early in spring in good garden mould. Height, 6 in.

Veratum.--Handsome foliage plants. They are quite hardy, and delight in a rich soil. July is the month in which they flower. They may be raised from seed, or propagated by division. Height, 5 ft.

Verbasc.u.m.--A hardy annual, which produces a profusion of showy flowers in July, and is very suitable for the backs of borders. It will thrive in any soil, and is easily raised from seed sown early in spring. Height, 3 ft.

Verbena.--This charming half-hardy perennial succeeds best in light, loamy soil. It seeds freely, and roots rapidly by being pegged down.

It is usual to take the cuttings in February, as spring-struck plants prove best both for growth and flowering. Place a score of cuttings in a 48-sized pot containing 1/3 of drainage material, covered with 1 in.

of rough leaf-mould, then filled to within 1-1/2 in. of the rim with equal parts of loam, leaf-mould, or peat and sand, with 1/3 in. of sand on the top. Make the soil firm at the base of the cuttings, and water level. It is, however, more easily obtained from seed raised on a gentle hotbed, and the plants thus raised are more robust and floriferous. It flowers in July. Height, 1 ft.

Verbena, Lemon-scented.--_See_ "Aloysia."

Veronica.--This graceful evergreen, commonly called Speedwell, bears handsome spikes of autumn flowers, and makes a good conservatory or sitting-room plant. It stands the winter out of doors in a sheltered position with a dry sub-soil. The annual varieties may be sown in autumn for spring flowering. Any light, rich, moist soil suits them.

The hardy perennial kinds are increased by dividing the roots, and the greenhouse varieties by seeds or cuttings. The different species flower from July to October. Height, 1 ft. to 10 ft.

Vesicaria Graeca.--A small hardy evergreen shrub, suitable for rock-work or edgings. It likes a light, dry soil and an open situation. It may be propagated by seeds, which are freely produced; but the readiest way to increase it is by cuttings of the side-shoots, taken as early as possible so as to become well rooted before cold weather sets in. It flowers from April to June. Height, 6 in. to 8 in.

Viburnum Opulus(_Guelder Rose_, or _s...o...b..ll Tree_).--A very elegant and hardy deciduous shrub, which will grow in any soil, and may be increased by layers, or by cuttings planted in the shade under gla.s.s.

It blooms in June. Height, 12 ft.

Viburnum Tinus (_Laurestinus_).--This well-known and much-admired evergreen shrub produces ma.s.ses of white flowers through the winter months, at which season it is especially ornamental. It is generally propagated by layers, but where a number of the plants are required they may be obtained from autumn cuttings planted in the shade and covered with a hand-gla.s.s. Height, 5 ft.

Vicia Pyrenaica.--A hardy and good perennial for rock-work, having compact tufts of green growth and producing deep crimson flowers in May and June. It will grow in any soil, and is of easy culture. It is increased by seed, also by division of the roots. Height, 1 ft.

Vinca (_Periwinkle_).--Many of these are variegated and very showy as rock-work plants, and will grow in any moist soil, enjoying a shady situation. They may be raised from seed sown early in spring in a warm situation, or may be increased by runners, which strike root at the joints like the Strawberry. They may be planted under the shade of trees. Many choice greenhouse evergreens bearing fine circular flowers and s.h.i.+ning foliage are also included under the name of Vinca. Height, 2 ft.

Vines.--_See_ "Grapes."

Violas.--The hardy perennials are suitable for the front of flower borders or rock-work, but the smaller species succeed best when grown in pots in a mixture of loam, peat, and sand. The herbaceous kinds are increased by seed or division of the roots, the shrubby varieties by cuttings planted under gla.s.s, and the annuals by seed sown in the open in spring. Height, 3 in. to 6 in.