Summer iFlotoers. 157 



colors are preferable in the single to the double 

 and duplex forms. The several spikes are stout 

 and the species is of robust habit, altogether a 

 grand border-plant. So also is the strong and 

 taller C. macrantha with blue-purple bells. It 

 should have a partially shaded place in the back 

 row of every border. The peach-leaved bell- 

 flower (C. persisctfolid] is an excellent border- 

 plant, but does not hold itself erect like the other 

 species, and therefore needs staking. All plants, 

 it may be observed, that require support should 

 be staked early, instead of being left until they 

 begin to flag. For supports iron stakes are the 

 neatest. The Austrian harebell (C. pulld), a 

 small species with lovely, drooping purple bells, 

 would be an admirable subject for the rock-gar- 

 den were it not for its rambling root-stalks. C. 

 barbata, the bearded harebell of Switzerland, I 

 have not found as satisfactory as some of its 

 relatives. 



To judge from the description and illustra- 

 tion, the finest of the bell-flowers if it may 

 justly be termed a bell-flower must be the 

 Bokhara bell-flower (Ostrmvskia magnified], just 

 introduced into Europe, a grand chime of bells 

 crowning a tall, leafy spire. The stem is stout, 

 from three to five feet high, the leaves in whorls ; 

 and the flowers, which are five inches of more 



