THE CANTEEBUEY BELL 



(CAMPANULA MEDIUM. 



BY 



J AS. M. HALL, 



HAMILTON. 



THE gfenus Campanula is a very im- 

 portant one, and contains some 

 three hundred species, some of which 

 are annual, some biennialand some perennial. 

 The Canterbury Bell (C. medium) is a 

 great favorite with me, and I have pleasure in 

 sending- you photograph of a bush in my gar- 

 den, and also of a few of the single flowers. 

 These show how appropriate the name Cam- 

 panula is, for it is a Latin word for " little 

 bell." I think no garden is complete with- 

 out this species. It is a hardy biennial, and 

 since it does not bloom until the second 

 year after planting, it is necessary to sow 

 seeds every year in order to keep up an an- 

 nual display of flowers. This plant grows 

 up the second year in pyramidal form, and 



Fig. 2540. Campanula Medium (C. Bells). 

 Grown by Mr. Hall, Summer of 1902. 



Fig, 2541. Canterbury Bells. 



has many large bell-shaped flowers in beau- 

 tiful shades of dark purple, mauve, blue, 

 pink and white ; they are also striped as 

 blue and white, mauve and white, etc. 



A lovely variety of this Campanula is the 

 one known as '* Cup and Saucer," the white 

 waxy appearance of which is beyond de- 

 scription. 



The Companulas succeed best in a very 

 rich, well drained soil, and they should not 

 be too much exposed to the sun. The 

 plants should be protected in winter with 

 leaves and coarse litter or straw. 



They are fine for cut flowers, and the cut- 

 ting encourages their continuous bloom ; in- 

 deed if the seed vessels are removed a second 

 crop of flowers may be had the same season. 



