March 20, 1909 



HORTICULTURE 



391 



Some Novelties of Double and 

 Semi-Double Campanula 



The belltiower or Campauula is a plant genus very 

 rich in forms and widely different in its varieties. One 

 of the oldest and best known types is the peach-leaved : 

 Campanula persicitolia. Clear colors — pure white and 

 various distinct shades of blue — and a marked profu- 

 sion of well-shaped flowers borne on long wiry stems, 

 are attributes which strongly appeal to the eye of every 

 garden owner. Their long-lasting quality as cut flow- 

 ers makes them still more worth having, especially since 

 this perennial has proven extraordinarily hardy and 

 under cover well survives the long frigid winters of our 

 northern States. Plant species of high floral value 

 merit the interest of the hybridizer. That the latter's 

 skill and labor was not wasted when turning to the 

 peach-leaved bellflowers, the present begins to show. 



The growth of the latest single varieties, when com- 

 pared with their old parents appears more robust and 

 taller. The individual bells of the gxandifloras are 

 decidedly larger in size and, in the most cases, they 

 sliow improvements in shape and color. 



The advance in the double and semi-double class is 

 by no means less remarkable. As the principal part 

 of the work on tlieir further developments has been car- 

 ried on in Europe, few of tlie recent novelties are as 

 yet found in American trade catalogues. Most of them 

 are, however, on the trial grounds of our leading hardy 

 herbaceous ])lant firms and will no doubt be sooner or 

 later disseminated. 



Among the latest introductions Campanula persici- 

 folia "Capri," in clear bright blue, and "Vineta," in 

 color a few shades darker, botli semi-double, are reported 

 to combine free flowering quality with enormous size of 

 the singular bells. Coupe d'azur, semi-double, of lower 

 growth, and the medium liigh navy blue variety "Cloche 

 bleue," are of French origin. TVilhelm Pfitzer of Stutt- 

 gart in Germany offers, among his novelties Campanula 

 persicifolia Pfitzeri, a large flowering, cup-shaped, 

 double or semi-double species, said to be Moerheimi in 

 clear bright blue. Mr. Pfltzer rarely ever exaggerates 

 and if his latest achievement is what is said of it, it is 

 sure to be a winner. Campanula persicifolia "Humosa," 

 one of the tallest growing semi-double, blue bellflowers, 

 has been introduced to the American trade during the 

 last year. 



In double white. Campanula persicifolia Moerheimi 

 stands unsurpassed in beauty and floral productions. 

 The sight of a clump of from fifty to one hundred 

 plants grouped together for mass effect is certainly daz- 

 zling. It is the immaculate white of the lily and the 

 alabaster gloss of the alba plena camellia that greets us. 

 This explains the rapidly growing popularity, both in 

 our country and in Europe, of Campanula Moerheimi. 



-^^juA/ojuji-S^<f&ou 



Northeast Ilarhnr. Mr 



Lilium Formosa 



[This commuuloation was intendeil for last week's issue 

 and editorial reference was made tliereiii concerning it. lint it was 

 unavoidably crowded out at tlie tinisli.— Ed.] 



Among the recent introductions among the trade is 

 the new Japan lily, Formosa. When disseminated in 

 fall of 1907 the supply was so short that one box was 

 shipped to each city, results of which were watchecl with 

 the keenest interest by all our local growers. A box of 



these bulbs was received in Eochester about September 

 10, 1907. The bulbs were potted and stored in cool 

 place. Not having bench room until after Cliristmas, 

 they were left and when benched (Jan. 2, 1908) they 

 had a mass of roots, and gave good promise, which was 

 fully verified by results. The plants were grown on, 

 staked as necessary, and when in bloom March 10th, on 

 good strong stems three to four feet long, they averaged 

 five flowers to a plant, and only four bulbs of the entire 

 box were discarded. The remainder were a revelation 

 to all who saw them. Clean, strong and thrifty, good 

 flower, elegant keeper, and congratulations were heard 

 on all sides because at last something had come tliat was 

 worth having, and on the success of that box in Eoches- 

 ter many orders were given to the firm handling it. 



Last fall when the shipments of Formosa began to ar- 

 rive the writer was present at the unpacking of several 

 cases in different establishments. Some were packed 

 in clay, others with just sphagnum moss, and these were 

 badly shrivelled, but all were potted. Eesults are now 

 apparent, and am sorry to say that Formosa lily is far 

 from its standard set by the sample box of year previous. 

 Grown by same grower, under same conditions, there has 

 been a decided falling off in quality both as to blooms 

 and foliage. These conditions prevail wherever Formosa 

 is grown here. The growth is very uneven, tall plants, 

 short plants, and apparently Formosa is a composite of 

 ten or twelve varieties, for, in looking over the growth of 

 several different shipments, there can be seen wide 

 leaves, narrow leaves, short and long leaves, red stem, 

 white stem, green stem, long jointed, short jointed, and, 

 in fact, apparently all varieties, and hard to tell which 

 is Formosa. Perhaps the introducers of this bulb can 

 inform us. The buds this year are not so plentiful, 

 showing a decided falling oif, averaging two or three 

 buds each plant, a good many having only one. With a 

 lily so full of promise such as the sample box was, the 

 writer fails to understand how it has taken such a sud- 

 den drop in quality. Grown side by side with other 

 lilies, it is certainly not worth the room, and it is to be 

 sincerely hoped that some improvement can be made. 



It is a good lily, early, and responds to treatment 

 readily, and I believe could be had in bloom for Christ- 

 mas if bulbs could be received during latter part of 

 August, without danger of being dug before ripe. 



Rochester, N. Y 



Monkshood 



There are a number of the various species of Aco- 

 nitum that do well in ordinary garden soil, napellus, the 

 true monkshood, being one of the best. It is also one 

 of the earliest flowering and does well either in sun or 

 shade — although the flowers will last longer if partially 

 protected from hot sun. Eesponds readily to high cul- 

 tivation. As seen at Dreer's during one of our last 

 year's visits it is one of the most charming of the long 

 list of hardy perennials and should be in every border 

 although not too near the vegetables nor where children 

 are likely to be playing, on account of the poisonous 

 character of its roots. 



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