30 
JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY- 
THE GENUS CAMPANULA FROM A GARDENER'S 
POINT OF VIEW. 
By Mr. J. Wood, F.R.H.S. 
[Read April 9, 1895.] 
It is from the gardener's more than from the botanist's point 
of view that I propose to speak of the Bellwort family. 
The genus Campanula has a world-wide representation, wild 
species being- found in every continent, but chiefly in the Old 
World, though possibly this is because of its flora being more 
fully investigated. 
Gardens are said to take their complexions from the moods 
and minds of their owners, but, so far as one can judge, flower- 
lovers of all minds and moods otherwise have endorsed and 
accepted the Bellflowers as beautiful and desirable friends. One 
might seem by such words as these to flatter either the flowers 
or the gardener, or both, but it is not so, for though as a type of 
flower the Campanula is known all the w^orld over, compara- 
tively little is known by many, even by numerous experienced 
gardeners, of the exceedingly rich store there is in this genus, as 
represented by the multitude of types and varieties, their exten- 
sive range of colour tints, their numerous forms and constant 
succession of flowering when brought under cultivation. 
It is not so much my intention to deal wdth the tender species, 
or even with the annuals and biennials, as to confine myself 
mainly, if not altogetlier, to the hardy perennials. When I 
speak of hardy I mean the capacity of the plant to withstand the 
rigors of even a severe winter like 1891-95 in any part of Clreat 
Britain, though one is aware that plants in captivity arc largely 
influenced as regards hardiiiess by local conditions, such as 
rich, heavy, or light soils, wind-swept aspects, fairly elevated 
positions, or the warmer and closer and damper air of our 
river valleys. These things have all much to do with tlie 
hardiness and health of our garden plants, influencing them so 
much that a man must go to school afresh at every change of 
locality where he may do his gardening, even with the care of 
plants he has known and grown all his life. 
To leave out of our present thoughts such beautiful biennials 
