130 THE GARDENER. [March 



NOTES ON HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 

 CAMPANULA. 



This is a very numerous and natural group of plants. A strong 

 family likeness pervades the whole, yet there is much diversity 

 of habit and stature, which renders them useful for many pur- 

 poses, and fit for a variety of positions. From the bright and 

 beautiful character of the few species with which we are familiar in 

 cultivation or in nature in this country, we may fairly estimate the 

 ornamental value of a large number of the perennial species. Our 

 own "Scottish Blue Bells," which, with grace and brightness, light 

 up for a long period in summer the hedge-banks and waste places all 

 over the country, may be taken as a fair type of the family in both the 

 scientific and practical sense. A few species from Madeira, the Cape 

 of Good Hope, and Australia, are suitable only for frame or green- 

 house culture ; but the great home of the family being northern 

 and southern Europe and western Asia, a very large majority are 

 hardy enough to endure the severest winters of our climate. They 

 are all of easy culture. Many may be propagated by cuttings, but the 

 largest number are best increased by division or by seed. 



C. Garganica is about 6 or 9 inches high, somewhat tufted and 

 prostrate, throwing out numerous branches, which, from May till July, 

 are rather profusely covered with the light-blue flowers. The flowers 

 are broadly campanulate, and deeply cut into five spreading lobes. 

 This is a very desirable species, and is most suitable for planting on 

 rockwork ; but in light, rich, well-drained soil it is available also for 

 the front lines of mixed borders. In some catalogues it is entered as 

 a biennial ; the plant is, however, perennial and hardy, but impatient 

 of wet undrained soil. 



C. elatine is nearly related to C. Garganica. It is prostrate and 

 tufted in growth, and hairy in nearly every part. The flowers appear 

 in June and July, are pale blue, broadly bell-shaped, and deeply cut 

 into five narrow spreading lobes. A distinct and desirable sort, best 

 fitted for planting on rockwork. Native of Piedmont. 



C. elatiiioides closely resembles the last-named sort, but is downy 

 and hoary all over, even to the lobes of the corolla. It flowers in July 

 and August ; the flowers are blue, deeply cut into five lanceolate 

 spreading lobes, and borne in rather close racemes. Suitable for rock- 

 work, and planting on dry stony banks. Native of Lombardy. 



C. fragilis, syn. C. diffusa, is a dwarf tufted species, sending out 

 numerous prostrate branches. The flowers, borne in loose racemes, are 

 bright blue, broadly campanulate, but not so deeply divided as those 



