84 



IRISH GARDENING. 



Campanula patula is a biennial, usually sow- 

 ing itself freely and coming up in the paths and 

 elsewhere in the rock garden. It is a tallish 

 plant, approaching two feet when in flower, and 

 is then distinctly attractive in border or 

 rockery. The flowers ai-e produced in loose 

 panicles, are long-stalked, and light blue in 

 colour; quite a good plant, liking a fairly good 

 soil. It is occasionally found wild in England. 



Campanula pyramidal is, commonly called the 

 Chimney Bellflower, is a well-known green- 

 house biennial, but is quite hardy under proper 

 conditions. If grown entirely in pots dense 

 pyramidal spikes of blue or white flowers are 

 produced four or five feet high; grown under 

 hardier conditions, the plants do not attain 

 such propoi-tions, but are nevertheless attrac- 

 tive. If grown almost entirely in the open, a 

 light, well-drained soil is essential, and a quan- 

 tity of old mortar rubble added will be an ad- 

 vantage. In' the Botanic Gardens at Glasnevin 

 many seedlin'gs continually appear in an old 

 wall, in the reserv^e part of the grounds, near 

 which the pot plants from the consei-vatories 

 are stood when out of flower. The seeds 

 formed on these plants And their way into the 

 crannies of the wall, and grow there and flower, 

 when in turn they shed their seeds, and so the 

 wall is never without a crop of the Campanula. 



Campanula sibirica is a biennial with some- 

 what the habit of C. longestyla, but the flowers 

 are neither so large nor so good in colour. The 

 flowers are drooping, of a bluish violet, and the 

 whole plant is furnished with stifi hairs. 



Campanula spicata is a biennial producing 

 spikes of closely-set blue flowers. The spikes 



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 bearing on gardening in any of its 

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attain a height of a foot or rather more in suit- 

 able conditions, and, owing to the habit of the 

 plant, it is advisable to plant rather closely for 

 effect. 



Campanula thijrsoidea, also biennial, makes 

 a suitable companion to the last named species. 

 It ])roduces dense spikes of pale yellow flowers 

 in the same manner as tlie preceding, and is 

 ecpially attractive on the rockery. 



Seeds of all should be collected carefully as 

 soon as ripe, and, with the exception of the 

 strictly annual species, it is advisable to sow 

 at once. Where a large and comprehensive col- 

 lection of plants is grown it is by no means an 

 easy matter to remember to sow seeds of all 

 those that are biennial or monocarpic. It is, 

 therefore, a good lule to sow a pinch of seed as 

 soon as it is ripe. j_ ^y J3^ 



Buttercups for the Rockery 

 and Small Bog. 



A.MoXG the many delightful j)lants which 

 ghulden our hearts in springtime none are more 

 interesting than the various species of Ranun- 

 culus, this being the botanical name of the 

 73uttercup. True, they are mostly yellow, but 

 they vary considerably in habit and height, in 

 size of flower, and shape of leaf, and one or two 

 have white flowers. Speaking generally, their 

 I'equirements are simple, though there are ex- 

 ceptions; nevertheless, a collection of these 

 Buttercups will give a great deal of jileasure 

 with very little trouble. 



The following have all flowered during May, 

 and were a source of much pleasure, contribut- 

 ing much to the beauty of the rock garden in fi 

 season wlieii most plants were late, and we were 

 weary waiting for the tai'dy Itlossoms of our 

 treasures. 



Ranunculus alpestris is a dainty gem with 

 tiny, lobed, dark-gi'cen leaves, from among 

 which arise the flower stems, scarcely more 

 than three inches high, carrying the pure wliite 

 llowei's. 



It. aiiiplexicaulis is a general favourite, grow- 

 ing IVoiu six to nine inches high, and producing 

 glaucous, acuminate, stem-clasping leaves sur- 

 inounled by numerous pui'e w liite flowers, each 

 with a central " boss " of golden-yellow 

 stamens. 



R. carpaticus, the Carpatliian liuttercup, is 

 a haiulsome, robust species, bearing fairly large 

 palmate leaves, and above them striking golden- 

 vellow flowers; height when in flower about a 

 foot. 



R. eassubicus is all fact ive, reaching a height 

 of about nine iiiclies wlieii ill flower. The lowt.'r 



