50 HARDY PERENNIALS AND 



to 8in. long and fin. wide, lance-shaped, stalkless, and finely 

 toothed. They are arranged in round tufts on the unproductive 

 crowns, and they remain green throughout the winter. 



As regards soil, any kind will do ; neither is the question of 

 position of any moment beyond the precaution which should be 

 taken against its encroachments on smaller subjects. In the 

 partial shade of shrubs it not only flowers well but proves very 

 effective. Useful as this plant is in the garden, it becomes 

 far more so in a cut state. When it is needful to make up a 

 bold vase or basket of flowers for room decoration, it can be 

 quickly and effectively done by a liberal use of its long, leafy, 

 but well-bloomed spikes ; five or six of them, 2ft. to 3ft. long, 

 based with a few large roses, paeonies, or sprays of thalictrum, 

 make a noble ornament for the table, hall, or sideboard, and it is 

 not one of the least useful flowers for trays or dishes when cut 

 short. Propagated by division at any time, the parts may be 

 planted at once in their blooming quarters. 



Flowering period, June and July. 



Campanula Latifolia. 



BROAD-LEAVED BELLFLOWER; Nat. Ord. CAMPANULACE^S. 



A BRITISH species, very much resembling C. grandis, but some- 

 what taller, and flowering a little earlier ; the latter quality has 

 induced me to mention it, as it offers a fine spike for cutting 

 purposes before the above is ready. 



Culture, uses, and propagation, the same as for C. grandis. 



Flowering period, June and July. 



Campanula Persicifolia. 



PEACH-LEAVED BELLFLOWER ; Old Common Names, " PEACH- 

 BELS" and " STEEPLE -BELS" ; Nat. Ord. CAMPANULACE^;. 



THIS good " old-fashioned " perennial has had a place in English 

 gardens for several hundred years ; it is still justly and highly 

 esteemed. It is a well-known plant, and as the specific name is 

 descriptive of the leaves, I will only add a few words of Gerarde's 

 respecting the flowers : " Alongst the stalke growe many flowers 

 like bels, sometime white, and for the most part, of a faire blewe 

 colour ; but the bels are nothing so deepe as they of the other 

 kindes, and these also are more delated and spred abroade then 

 any of the reste." The varieties include single blue (type) and 

 white, double blue, and different forms of double white. 



In all cases the corolla is cup or broad bell shaped, and the 

 flowers are sparingly produced on slightly foliaged stems, 18in. 

 to 3ft. high; there are, however, such marked distinctions 

 belonging to C. p. alba fl.-pl. in two forms that they deserve 



