BELL-FLOWER. 115 



people to decorate their windows, as it is sufficiently 

 pliable to accommodate itself to any shape ; some- 

 times bending its branches round a hoop, forming 

 a complete circle ; at otliers, taking a fan shape, 

 so as to serve as a blind either to the window, or 

 to the rustic grate of a country parlour. 



So dill tlie maidens, witli their various flowers 

 Decke up their windows, and make neat their bowers. 



We have sometimes seen its branches trained 

 over hoops so as to form a complete globe, which 

 is an ingenious device ; but nature has formed 

 this rustic plant so peculiarly graceful, that to at- 

 tempt to mend it is only to add deformity. This 

 species is biannual, and grows naturally in some 

 parts of France, Savoy, and Carniola. 



It was cultivated in our gardens in the time of 

 Gerard, who calls it " Steeple Milkie Bell-Flower," 

 on account of the milky nature of the juice of the 

 branches and roots, and not from the colour of its 

 bells, which are generally blue, although a variety 

 sometimes occurs with white flowers. This plant 

 is usually increased by offsets, but those raised 

 from seed produce the tallest plants, and give the 

 greatest number of flowers. The seed should be 

 sov.'n in the autumn in pots or boxes filled with 

 light undunged earth, and placed in the open air 

 until the frost or hard rains come on, when they 

 should be removed under cover of a frame, always 



