COMMON OAEDEN FLOWERS. 



145 



ground in early spring. Venus' Looking-glass, or 

 Ladies' Looking-glass [Specularia speculum), formerly 

 called C. speculum, is so named from the resemblance 

 of its flowers, set upon their cylindrical ovary, to an 

 ancient mirror at the end of a handle. The name is 

 given by Spenser in his " Faerie Queene " to a magic 

 mirror, in whicli a lady might see her destined 

 husband. 



Among the biennial varieties a foremost place must 

 be given to Campanula Medium, the Canterbury Bell, 

 so named by Gerarde from growing very plentifully 

 in the low woods about Canterbury — in allusion, pro- 

 bably, to the bells so-called that were used by pilgrims 

 on their road to and from the shrine of St. Thomas. 

 It would appear that this came originally from Ger- 

 many or Italy. Of Canterbury Bells there is now a 

 large group of very fine varieties, double and single, 

 varied in colour and singularly handsome. There is a 

 variety cRlledcali/canthema, so named because the calyx 

 has broadened out and become a broad saucer- shaped 

 secondary flower. There are the blue and white 

 varieties of this, and they deserve a place in every 

 garden. Canterbury Bells are increased by means 

 of seeds ; these should be sown in boxes or in the 

 open border in May, and planted out in the autumn 

 to flower the following summer. Seeds should be 

 sown every year, and the plants require to be 

 planted in good garden soil so as to secure good 

 heads of bloom. 



Of hardy perennial species and varieties, there is a 

 very numerous group. We will content ourselves 

 with indicating the most valuable of them. C. car- 

 patica, the Carpathian Hare-bell, forms neat, compact 

 tufts, about a foot in height, covered with large, 

 erect, blue flowers ; useful as an edging, bedding, or 

 border plant. Carpatica alba is a pure white variety, 

 similar in all other respects. They do well in any 

 good garden soil. C. garganica, the Gargano Hare- 

 bell, from Italy, is an excellent dwarf species, bearing 

 bluish-purple flowers, with white centres. It is well 

 adapted for rock-work, and for borders of light 

 gritty soil. C. glomcrata dahurica is a very fine 

 variety of the Clustered Harebell, a very desirable 

 and handsome plant, invaluable for cutting, or for 

 the decoration of the flower border. It grows about 

 eighteen inches in height, forming a number of 

 stems producing clusters of flowers in the axils of 

 the leaves, and terminating with large heads of rich 

 deep purple blossoms ; one of the finest hardy plants 

 in cultivation. This does well in any good soil ; so 

 does C. graudis, the Great Bell-flower, a fine old- 

 fashioned perennial, forming a bush three feet in 

 height, composed of spikes thickly set with large 

 blue salver- shaped flowers; there is a fine white 

 variety of this also. C. grandifiora (more correctly 

 Platijcodon grandijlorum) is the Noble Hare-bell, a 

 34 



very effective hardy border pej'ennial, producing, 

 late in autumn, erect spikes of large salver-shaped 

 blue flowers ; this also has a white variety, and 

 they are both distinct in habit and bloom Irom all 

 other Campanulas. C. Hendersonii is a hybrid Bell- 

 flower of great merit, possessing the characteristic 

 of flowering throughout the summer. The flowers 

 are large and very numerous, of a pretty mauve 

 colour, growing to about twelve inches in height, 

 forming a pyramidal outline. It is very vigorous 

 in growth, perfectly hardy, and very distinct, doing 

 well in a good loam. C. persicifoUa is the Peach- 

 leaved Campanula, growing two and a half to three 

 feet in height, and bearing large, broadly bell- 

 shaped, blue flowers ; there is a white variety also. 

 The double white-flowered form of this (C. persici- 

 foUa alba Jiorepleno) is one of the very best of the 

 genus ; the flowers pure white, in long close 

 spikes ; very doable, and exceedingly free-groAving ; 

 really a grand perennial. €. puUa, the Dark- 

 coloured Hare-bell, is one of the best of the dwarf 

 species, forming in cool shady situations carpets 

 of the loveliest verdure, and numerous stems two 

 inches in height, terminating mth drooping deep 

 purple flowers ; very charming when seen in a mass. 

 G. turbinata, the Vase Hare-bell, is a sturdy little 

 kind, four inches or so in height, and bearing, 

 for the size of the plant, huge, very handsome, 

 deep purple, cup-shaped flowers. It is of the 

 character of C. carpatica, but dwarfer, and with 

 larger flowers. There are several fine varieties of 

 this, and all do well on warm sandy slopes or 

 borders. C. Van Houttei is a very fine hybrid Bell- 

 flower, one of the finest and showiest of this exten- 

 sive genus, producing erect stems two feet in height, 

 bearing immense dai-k blue flowers, fully two inches 

 in length. A variety named pallida is a counterpart 

 of the preceding, but with pale lavender- coloured 

 flowers. 



Of the green-house section we may mention two 

 species only — one, C. Barrelieri (Barrelier's Campa- 

 nula), a dwarf, trailing species, very suitable for 

 pots and baskets, bearing profusely large, pale, 

 grepsh-blue, saucer-shaped flowers ; a i^lant that 

 can often be met with in excellent form in cottage 

 windows ; and the great Chimney Campanula, C. 

 pyramidalis, a noble plant for pot-culture, or the 

 back of the herbaceous border, forming a pyramid, 

 composed of ntmierous stems, four to five feet in 

 height, each stem being crowded with lai-ge, blue, 

 salver-shaped flowers. C. pijramidaUs alba is similar 

 to the above in every respect, but bears white flowers. 

 These two do well in good soil, which should be well 

 manured in order to insure fine flowers ; both can be 

 raised from seeds. C. Barrelieri does best in a gritty 

 soil, and a plant of it will last many years. 



