RAMPIOX. 77 



diameter ; skin white, slightly wrinkled, sometimes tinged 

 with purple where exposed to the sun ; flesh white, solid, 

 and pungent, though milder than that of the Black Spanish. 

 It succeeds best, and is of the best quality, when grown in 

 light sandy soil. Season intermediate. 



RAMPION. 



Campanula rapunculus. 



The Rampion is a biennial plant, indigenous to the south 

 of Europe, and occasionally found in a wild state in England. 

 The roots are white, fusiform, fleshy, and, in common with 

 the other parts of the plant, abound in a milky juice ; the 

 lower or root leaves are oval, lanceolate, and waved on the 

 borders ; the upper leaves are long, narrow, and pointed. 

 Stem eighteen inches or two feet in height, branching ; flow- 

 ers blue, sometimes white, disposed in small, loose clusters 

 about the top of the plant, on the ends of the branches. 

 The seeds are oval, brownish, and exceedingly small up- 

 wards of nine hundred thousand being contained in an ounce. 

 They retain their germinative property five years. 



The plant flowers in July of the second year, and the seeds 

 ripen in autumn. There is but one variety. 



Soil and Cultivation. The finest roots are obtained from 

 a rich, loamy soil, with a northern aspect ; or in localities 

 not exposed to the too direct influence of the sun. Stir the 

 ground thoroughly to the depth of ten or twelve inches, rake 

 the surface smooth and fine, and sow the seeds either in 

 April or May, in very shallow drills ten inches asunder. 

 When well up, thin to four inches apart in the lines. 



In protracted dry and warm weather the plants sometimes 

 run to seed the first season, when the roots become fibrous, 

 strong flavored, and unfit for use. 

 7* 



