A florist says that "to grow Verbenas successfully, plant them in beds
cut in the turf. Chop the turf well and thoroughly mix with it a good
share of well-decomposed stable manure; never, on any account plant them
in old and worn-out garden soil as they will most assuredly fail. Give
them a change of soil each season, as they do not thrive well two years
in the same bed."
As a house plant the Verbena is not a success. It is most always sickly,
and infested with red spiders. They cannot be kept over winter in a
cellar; it is growth or death.
Verbenas were first introduced into Europe about fifty years ago from
South America, and a few years later into this country. They have been
greatly improved, and the varieties are very numerous. Many are
fragrant. The only hardy sort is Montana, a native of Colorado. It is a
profuse bloomer, color, a bright rose. There are the German Hybrids, the
Italian stripes, and the Drummondii from Texas. Every year brings its
novelties, as with other flowers. Mr. C. E. Allen, who makes a specialty
of seedling Verbenas, is sending out several fine ones this season;
Silver Queen, Florence, Emma, Carroll, Ralph and Variegata are very
attractive according to the descriptions.