38 JOTTINGS OF A GENTLEMAN GARDENER 



at all. But such times are unfit for outdoor work, and 

 every fine day in winter is a busy time in the garden. 



There is a further reason for getting them in as early as 

 possible. These plants have to make a certain amount of 

 growth before they can flower. If they do not make some 

 of it at this end of the winter they will have to make it all 

 in the spring. What does it mean ? Simply that it will 

 be late before they start flowering, and will not be over by 

 the time the summer bedding should be put out. The 

 evils of being behind the times are great. Be early. 



The following are some good biennials, including some 

 which are really perennials. 



Campanula pyramidalis : This is really a hardy per- 

 ennial, but as it nearly always dies in the second year 

 after it has thrown up its flower spike, I include it here. 

 It is a magnificent plant, and when in bloom reaches a height 

 of 3-5 ft. Its place is in the mixed border, but it should 

 not be placed at the back but rather towards the front, so 

 that its glory may be seen. It requires staking early with 

 a strong bamboo cane. Sown in June or July and trans- 

 planted it blooms the following summer. It can be had 

 in two colours, blue and white. 



Canterbury Bells : These old friends are not nearly 

 enough cultivated, except by cottagers and those who are 

 called old-fashioned. Perhaps the reason is that referred 

 to earlier in this chapter. But amateurs will miss some of 

 the most beautiful flowers if they neglect to grow them. 

 Some grow into huge plants completely covered with beauti- 

 ful " bells " in the early summer, and if when the flowers 

 are over the plants are cut down and watered in dry 

 weather, a second crop may sometimes be obtained. I 

 have referred to their culture earlier in this chapter, so that 

 it is only necessary to add that they must have plenty of 

 room in their flowering quarters. I consider the blue 

 variety Calycanthema the best sort of the cup and saucer 

 or semi-double Canterbury Bells. Of the other sort, the 

 double blue and the single blue should be tried. There 

 are also other colours including rose, mauve, and white, 



