Part II. CAMPANULA. 163 



CAMPANULA OlS&'SVSO^h..— Tufted Harebell. 



One of the most beautiful little gems in the alpine flora, abun- 

 dantly distributed over the high ranges in the warmer and 

 central parts of Europe, and thriving as well in all parts of the 

 British Isles as in the pure cool air of its highland home. It 

 grows qnly a few inches high, rivals the evergreen -Candytufts 

 in hardiness, and looks the same fresh, purely tinted, ever 

 spreading, and bravely flowering little plant in margining a bed of 

 roses in a British garden, as it does when seen mantling round 

 the stones and crevices of rocks on the Simplon and other passes. 

 There is a pure white variety as pretty and clear in ,tone as the 

 blue, and both are admirable for the rockwork or mixed border 

 and also as edging plants. They thrive best in rather moist 

 peaty soil, and, when the plants are not too old, continue flowering 

 from May till August, especially, in moist ground, though they 

 thrive in any soil. It is most easily increased by division and 

 also by seed, but as a few tufts may be divided into small pieces, 

 and quickly form a stock large enougli for any garden, it is 

 scarcely worth while raising it from seed, except where plants 

 cannot be got. It is usually known as C. piimila in gardens, 

 and under that name it was figured in the ' Botanical, .Magazine.' 

 It is also known as C. pzisilla, from which, however, it is distinct. 



CAMPANULA GKSSK'n.Q,^.— Carpathian Harebell. 



This, while bearing splendid cup-shaped flowers as large as 

 those of the tall and vigorous peach-leaved Harebell, has the 

 dwarf neat habit of the true alpine kinds, and is happily, now 

 spreading so rapidly in popular esteem that I need not plead for 

 its culture. A native of the Carpathian Mountains and other 

 parts of the same region, and fortunately easy of culture in all 

 parts of these islands, growing from six inches to over a foot in 

 height, according to the depth, warmth, and richness of the soil. 

 It begins to flower in early summer, and often continues to bloom 

 for a long time, especially if the plants are young, and the seed- 

 vessels be picked off. There is a white variety, C. c. albaj a pale 

 blue one, pallida; and a delicately toned white and blue kind, 

 bicolor — names for the most noticeable variations raised from 

 seed. It is quite easily raised in this way, or increased by divi- 

 sion, and is a most valuable bedding and edging as well as rock 



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