DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF FLOWERS. 149 



weakened ; tlie same holds good with all biennials, and 

 most seedling perennials. 



C. persicaefolia, — Peach-leaved Bell-flower. — This is 

 one of the finest species, containing a nnmber of beautiful 

 varieties, with large, showy flowers, more bowl-shaped 

 than the last. The varieties are single and double blue, 

 single and double white, maxima^ or large peach-leaved, 

 etc. All of them are perfectly hardy, with handsome 

 foliage, which makes them valuable as border flowers. 

 Stems angular; leaves stiff*; obsoletely crenate-serrate ; 

 radical ones, oblong-ovate ; cauline ones, lanceolate-line- 

 ar ; three feet high ; in flower in June and July. 



Ct pyramidalis. — Pyramidal Bell-flower. — This is a 

 grand ornament, when cultivated in perfection, forming 

 a pyramid from four to six feet high, producing innumer- 

 able flowers for two or three months, if shaded from the 

 sun. It was formerly a great favorite in England, but its 

 popularity has long since passed away to give place to 

 other more fashionable flowers, which have in their turn 

 also been succeeded by other rivals more fair. But the 

 old-fashioned Hollanders are not quite so fickle ; flowers 

 with them seem to be esteemed, notwithstanding their 

 antiquity. The Pyramidal Bellflower is said to be in 

 demand there still, as an ornament to halls, stair-cases, 

 and for placing before fire-places in the summer season. 



Plants raised from seeds are always stronger^ and the 

 stalks rise higher, and produce a greater number of flowers. 

 They are to be sown in pots of light earth, soon after be- 

 ing gathered, protected by a frame during Avinter, and 

 will come up in the spring. When the leaves decay, in 

 October, they are to be transplanted to beds of light, 

 sandy earth, without any mixture of dung, which is a 

 great enemy to this plant. Here they are to remain two 

 years, being protected by rotten tan ; they are then to be 



