72 FLORA DOMESTICA. 



same manner as the Peach-leaved, but prefers a loamy 

 soil: they are both very hardy. The name of Throat- 

 wort was given to these plants from a notion that they 

 would cure inflammation and swelling of the throat. 



The lesser Canterbury Bells have purple, brilliant blue, 

 or white flowers, which continue from June to September. 

 This prefers a dry chalky soil : in a rich soil the flowers 

 are apt to lose their colour. This is the Calathian Violet; 

 also called Autumn Bell-flower, Autumn Violet, and Har- 

 vest Bells. 



The Medium, or Coventry Bells,— in French, Mariettes, 

 and in Italian, Viola Mariana [Mary's Violet] — to which 

 Gerarde gives the name of Mercury's Violets, have large 

 and handsome flowers, blowing in June: their colours, 

 blue, purple, white, or striped. 



The Campanulas here enumerated, and such others as 

 are not natives of the Cape, are sufficiently hardy to en- 

 dure the open air in the winter, although some of them 

 are sheltered while seedlings. Most of them may be in- 

 creased by cuttings or seeds. Those raised from cuttings 

 flower more quickly ; those from seeds are considered as 

 the strongest. They should be sparingly watered. 



There is a species of Campanula which is trained to 

 conceal fire-places in the summer, and has a very pretty 

 effect when so used. It is the Pyramidal Campanula ; la 

 Pi/ramidale des Jardins of the French. The roots send 

 out three or four strong upright stalks, which grow nearly 

 four feet high, and are garnished with smooth oblong 

 leaves and an abundance of large blue flowers. These 

 upright stalks send out short side-branches, which are 

 also adorned with flowers ; so that, by spreading the up- 

 right stalks to a flat frame composed of slender laths, the 

 whole plant is formed into the shape of a fan, and will 

 perfectly screen a common sized fire-place. The plant 



