February 24, 1906 



HORTICULTURE 



215 



Notes on Herbaceous Plants 



C VMl'ANI I. A CARPATHICA 



The natural order of Carnpanulacese contains many 

 plants of great beauty and of great importance to those 

 who make a specialty of hardy plants. The genus 

 Campanula itself comprises many species worthy of 



notice. Bailey in his encyclopedia enn rates 63 spe- 



eies besides - e varieties. In 1896 when I assisted in 



preparing a list of all the herbaceous plants in culti- 

 vation in the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, we 

 had then 106 species and varieties of campanula — rather 

 a formidable collection. Many of these, of course, were 



not tit subjects for tl rdinary garden but in a botanic 



garden a collection is the primary point. I have beside 

 mi' a catalogue of a reputable hardy plain grower of 

 Europe and be offers I'm- sale 96 species and varieties 

 of campanula. Campanulas as a general rule are of 

 easy culture; true, there arc a few of I he Alpine kinds 

 that do not thrive under ordinary treatment, but these 

 are not of sufficient interest to come under the scope of 

 tin- present article. 



C. Abietina. This lovely species from East Europe 

 is, I believe, comparatively rare. The fronds are 

 borne on slender stalks which rise to a height of 1 5 to 

 20 inches. Tln\ are of a beautiful blue, the centre of 

 the flowers being almost white. It takes a moist 'soil 

 hut the soil must be well drained. It is of a tufty habit 

 and may be easily increased by division or seed. 



C. Allioni. A very pretty alpine species, compari- 

 tively easy' to grow. Tt is a low growing plant seldom 

 exceeding sis inches in height. The flowers are large 

 for the size of the plant and are borne singly. Thej 

 have a purplish hue. It is a native of the Alps of Pied- 



mont. It likes plenty of moisture, yet 1 have never 

 found it fn succeed well in the border. It does best in 

 the rockery where it likes to get into the crevices. It 

 may he propagated by division or by seed. 



< '. alpina. This is another alpine species; rare hut of 

 eas) culture. It is very downy, being covered with 

 greyish hairs. The flowers are dark blue, borne on 

 hairy stalks about 10 inches high. It does not spread 

 much and is best increased from seed. 



('. barbata. A pretty little species from the Alps of 

 France, commonh called the bearded harebell, owing to 

 its having a heard at the mouth of its beautiful pale 

 blue flowers. These are borne 3 or 5 on the stalks 

 which rise in a height of 10 inches. It is of easy cul- 

 ture and delights in a moist well drained soil. There 

 is also a white variety. 



C. caespitosa. A beautiful little alpine with a de- 

 lightful tufted habit, growing onlj a few inches high. 

 It is a mosl desirable plant for border or rockery. The 

 flowers are nodding ami are pale blue and there is 

 also a white variety. This species is also known under 

 the names of pumila and pusila but it is distinct from 

 either of these species. It is easily propagated by 

 iln ision. 



i cai pal hica. A rial re of the Carpathian moun- 

 tains. i*ne of the best dwarf border plants. The 

 flowers are large and en shaped and individually are 

 equal to the more c'omm m C. persicsefolia. Whilst a 

 dwarf plant, rarely e\ ding 13 in. in heigl 

 a in' .-i reliii-t habit. Iiere are several varietii 

 worthy of cull ivatioi .alba, pallida, a paler 



