Venus's Looking-Glass (_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 glass 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.
Verbascum.--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.