IRISH GARDENING. 



From seed of this species I have been fortunate 

 enough to raise a pigmy sport — just a dark 

 green cushion bursting with creamy-yellow 

 riowers, a sort of mossy saxifrage on a grand 

 scale. In a very different class stands Kh. 

 Thomsoni of richest blood-red crimson, a noble 

 plant for any garden, and one, moreover, which 

 is pro\-ing of especial value to the hybridist. The 

 jiale yellow flowers of Eh. campylocarpuni, 

 can-ied literally in hundreds of trusses on a 

 well-established plant here, seem to attract 

 visitors almost more than any other. It is cer- 

 tainly a very striking object at its best, and the 

 hardiness of the plant is by no means the least 

 desirable of its attributes. Of quite a different 

 type comes Rh. .Jacksoni, a caucasicum hybrid 

 oi weeping habit, with rosy-pink flowers — a 

 hardy, free-flowering plant, of which the white 

 variety forms a very desk-able associate. There 

 is here a distinctly richer-coloured form of the 

 typical Ilh. racemosum — a plant that proves a 

 happy companion for the lovely Osmanthus 

 ])e]avayi. 



Kb. arboreum in its many forms needs no 

 detailed reference, and yet it must always rank 

 as an indispensable adjvmct to the Ehododen- 

 dron garden It is, perhaps, seen at its best 

 when boldly massed for distant effect in wood- 

 land clearings or partially shaded })()sitions. 

 Similar treatment may well be applied to Kh. 

 compamdatimi and its liybrids. 



Eh. Davidsonianum, Eh. charianthum, and 

 Eh. Bailey i (a new species from the Brahma- 

 ])utra Eiver of considerable promise) are coming 

 into flower as the month closes. They are each 

 distinctly good shrubs of much ornamental 

 value — the first two being 6i the Yunnanense 

 type, and the latter of the lepidotum series. 



26th April, 1910. 



Campanulas of Annual or 

 Biennial Duration. 



I.v the beautiful family of Bellflowers there are 

 some distinctly annual, some biennial, and a 

 few that if not strictly biennial are at least un- 

 satisfactory perennials. 



The annuals, naturally, should be sown every 

 spring as soon as the weather is suitable in 

 April, and it is usually best to sow where they 

 are to flower in preference to transplanting from 

 j)ots or pans. 



The biennials may be sown in .Mav or .June in 

 l»ans of sandy soil, and should be kept close 

 and shaded in a cold frame until germinated; 

 admit light and air gradual! v, and when the 



seedlings are sufficiently advanced to handle 

 easily, prick out into pans or boxes as many as 

 are required. If returned to the frame and kept 

 lightly shaded for a week or ten days, in sunny 

 weather, the seedlings will make rapid head- 

 way, and by autumn will be sturdy young 

 plants. If well grown in early autumn some 

 may be transferred to the border or rock garden, 

 as the case may be, otherwise planting-out 

 may be deferred to the first favourable oppor- 

 tunity in spring. 



Campanula abictiiia, if not strietly biennial, 

 is certainly not a reliable perennial, and it is 

 well to sow a pinch of seed annually to ensure 

 always having a stock of flowering plants. The 

 true plant is quite a desirable one for the rock 

 garden, being of tufted habit, forming dense 

 mounds of rich green leaves, sumiounted in 

 early sununer by many lovely bright blue 

 flowers. The total height when in flower is 

 about nine inches, but this may be exceeded if 

 the plants are growing in shade. 



Canjpatiula harhata is another species which 

 often lives more than two years, but after the 

 first time of flowering is rai'ely satisfactory. 

 Again then it is well to sow seeds annually to 

 liave in stock a supply of vigorous young plants. 

 This is one of the most beautifid members of 

 the genus, the flowers being carried on a spike 

 about a foot high, the charming pale blue 

 riowei's being furnished with long, soft hairs, 

 hence the specific name barbata (bearded). 

 There is a fine pure''white variety which comes 

 true from seeds, and a colony of this flowering 

 on the rockery is hardly exceeded in beauty by 

 any other hardy plant. 



Campanula Erinus is an annual, dwarf in 

 stature, and slightly hairy in all its parts. The 

 flowers vary tln-ough blue, ])ink, and white, and 

 are rather attractive when seen in a mass. It 

 is suitable for sowing on the rock garden among 

 small-growing bulbs that will die df)wn "early, 

 or about the nooks and crannies of stone steps 

 in sunny positions. 



Campanula lon<p'>ifiihi is a biennial suitable 

 for the border or roekei'v. it is a tall growei', 

 reaching two feet in heiglit in suitable positions. 

 The first season a rosette of leaves is formed 

 lying close to the soil, and the ff)llowing year 

 a tall spike of beautiful dark, })nrple-bhie 

 flowers is produced. At flowering time the 

 foliage becomes rather sparse, and it is advis- 

 able to plant somewhat closely to ensure a good 

 mass of colour. 



Cant paniiht inacroul ijhi is an annmil, but 

 should be sown in slight warmth in early 

 si)ring, and grown on for planting out in May, 

 or it may be sown in autumn and wintered 

 seeiu'e froiu frost, thereafter pricking out in 

 spring and gi'owing on for planting out. When 



