104 THE UNHEATED GREENHOUSE 



same purpose two Italian Bell-flowers, Campanula fragilis and 

 C. isophylla alba, are invaluable, the latter being the more 

 easy of the two to grow into a fine specimen. A little early 

 pinching-back of the shoots will help to retard their flowers till 

 late autumn, when they are very welcome. Though these are 

 both natives of sunny Italy, they prefer partial shade when 

 under glass. A fine blue variety, C. isophylla Mayi, named 

 after its raiser, has recently been introduced. 



So far, mostly quite hardy plants have been under considera- 

 tion, but there are a good many half-hardy perennials which 

 may be used, with a little careful preparation beforehand, for 

 the autumn greenhouse. Two or three dwarf species not 

 varieties of Dahlia, for example, come in very well to fill up 

 a gap at this late season. D. gracilis, a slender-growing 

 Mexican plant, with bright scarlet single flowers and finely cut 

 leaves, is good and showy, only care must be taken to secure 

 the true species, and not some coarse-growing seedling 

 masquerading under the name. D. glabrata (syn. D. Merckii) 

 has smaller lilac or white flowers, but produced very freely ; 

 while the Black Dahlia, so-called (which is not really a Dahlia 

 at all, but Cosmos diversifolius), makes a good foil with its 

 dark brown, velvety petals. These can be raised from seed, 

 and answer best if they are grown in pots plunged out of 

 doors during the summer, and all the strength thrown into the 

 growth by the removal of all buds until the plants are wanted 

 to flower. Arctotis arborescens, a very beautiful, but rather 

 tender, perennial, often used for summer bedding, comes under 

 this class. It is somewhat bushy in habit, and likes plenty of 

 room, but it is well worth taking any pains to get its large 

 creamy-white flowers in autumn. These are tinged with pink 

 on the under-side of the petals, and the fine grey-green foliage 

 sets them off to great advantage. How true it is that no 

 greenery goes better with any flower than its own leaves. 

 Another species, A. aureola, has glowing orange flowers, which 



