September 25, 1884. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
279 
terminal and axillary clusters, in all cases tlie terminal ones 
being much, the finer. The calyx tube is distinctly twisted, while 
the flower buds, together with the fully expanded blooms, ai’e 
eijual in size to those of the garden Gentian. The predominant 
colour is au intense indigo blue, of a lighter shade on nearing 
the tube, and densely spotted with white in a uniform blotch. 
It comes from the Western Himalayas, where it is found at a 
great elevation. It delights in a deep moist (never wet and 
never dry) bed of equal parts of peat and rich fibrous loam, with 
abundance of sharp grit, suits it well; choosing for it a 
partially shaded position where the direct rays of the mid-day 
sun may be broken. Its time of flowering is about the second 
week in September, and it is a decided acquisition to its genus : 
it is propagated by seeds cbielly, since the plants themselves 
take some years ere they are of sufficient size to admit of 
division. 
C AMPAN 0L A W ALDSTEINIAN A.— This is a rare and pretty species 
from Carinthia, and is remarkable for its dense carpet-like tufts, 
which soon form into a complete and spreading mass, smothered 
during August and September with its tiny erect bluish-lilac 
flowers ; these usually appear in such numbers as to completely 
hide its slightly glaucous leaves. It is quite the plant required 
for covering bare places on the rockery, being easily managed 
and readily increase 1 by division. This operation should be per¬ 
formed during showery weather in spring. It delights in light 
sandy loam and a somewhat sunny position; freestone, sand¬ 
stone, or magnesian limestone chippings might with advantage 
be mixei with the soil, it should be in every collection of choice 
plants. It seldom exceeds 3 inches in height, at least under 
cultivation. I have both grown it well and seen it in excellent 
cond tion in the York Nurseries, also in the Rock Garden at 
Bickley. It appears originally to have been brought from 
Hungary during the year 1824. 
Zauschneria californica. —Apart from this dwarf autumn¬ 
flowering rock plant, we have scarcely anything possessing such 
a brilliancy of colour and producing greater effect for so 
lengthened a period as this does. It is one of those indispensable 
plants, seeing that it flowers at a time when rock and alpine 
plants generally are conspicuous by the almost total absence of 
flowers. It is fairly known and duly appreciated. Still, there 
is a wide field open for it, and those desirous of having it on trial 
need not wait till they can afford some elaborate rockery to plant 
it on, for it is as much at home in the open border as anywhere, 
and, above all, a point considerably in its favour, too, is that it 
succeeds in almost any ordinary well-drained soil. I recently 
saw some splendid patches 2 feet or more across in a. gravelly 
and somewhat hungry soil, and this after a dry scorching hot 
summer; therefore I do not think there is any further need to 
impress upon the minds of intelligent readers the desirability of 
growing such a plant as this. It is of neat, compact, bushy habit, 
and usually grows about 1 foot high, though I have known it in 
light loamy soils in a warm situation to attain a height of 
18 inches, its flowers are of a bright vermilion scarlet and 
tubular in shape; these are borne in great profusion, which, 
coupled with its brilliant colour, render it one of the most effective 
of autumn-flowering plants. I may here mention a fact connected 
with its free growth. Last autumn I purchased some plants in 
small pots; these with many others were permanently qilanted 
out, and have now made charming cushions 18 inches across 
and studded with flowers. Strictly speaking, it is an herbaceous 
perennial, and appears to form numerous underground stems 
during the winter, as 1 have known it to send up stoloniferous 
shoots 6 inches each way from the sjiot where it was originally 
placed, and that in about four months after planting from 2|-inch 
pots. It is easily increased by division and also by seeds, and 
cannot be too extensively employed. 
Campanula fragilis. —This is another of the gems of late 
summer and early autumn. For pot culture it is well adapted. 
Of this I am forcibly reminded by some splendidly flowered 
examples almost within arm’s reach, which completely hide both 
pot and foliage from view. They are simply grand with their 
pale blue flowers. Not the least noteworthy fact in connection 
with it is that it succeeds admirably as a window plant, and far 
eclipses all others of its genus in this particular. Nothing can 
afford greater pleasure than to possess a plant of such sterling 
merit, which is so well adapted to such a variety of purposes; it 
makes, too, a capital basket plant, and is not less useful for 
adorning the rockery. Those who have experience with it as a 
pot plant where occasional handling is necessary will not be in 
Ignorance of the peculiar aptness of its specific name, the pro¬ 
strate stems breaking off at the slightest touch. In planting it 
on the rockery, qilace it in a well-drained sunny position in rich 
light sandy loam, and where it may droop over a projecting 
ledge; in this way its effect is most pleasing, and can be seen to 
advantage. I should have mentioned that it delights in deep 
soil. It is a native of the Italian Alps. C. fragilis hirsuta is a 
variety which, as the name implies, is densely clothed with stiff 
silken down: in other respects it is identical with the typical 
species, being equally valuable. Both are propagated by careful 
division of the rootstock and by cuttings of the young shoots in 
heat in the spring. So remarkably brittle is the plant that in 
potting press the soil firmly with the fingers, and avoid the usual 
knocking of the pot on the bench, or half of the branches may 
be broken off.—J. H. E. 
[We reproduce an engraving of Campanula fragilis, which 
appeared a few years ago in the Journal under the incorrect 
Fig. 47.—Campanula fiagili 
name of 0. isophylla. For suspending in pots in windows we 
know of no plant better adapted nor more beautiful.] 
NOTES ON VEGETABLES. 
Ne Plus Ultra Pea .—Is there a better late Pea than Ne Plus Ultra ? 
Is there one so good as regards size of peas, colour, and especially 
flavour ? I have not met with one ; in fact I know no Pea which at any 
season is so fine in all respects when placed on the table. Its one fault 
is the height to which the haulm grows, but this can very easily be cured 
by switching off the tops when a desired height has been reached. From 
Messrs. Veitch we had a moderately dwarf variety named Sturdy. It is 
nearly as good as Ne Plus Ultra, and would be worth looking after by 
those desirous of growing dwarf sorts. 
The Best-flavoured Tomatoes ,—I do not think we are wise in growing 
very large-fruited varieties which do not possess the flavour of some 
smaller fruits. Dedham Favourite is one of the best flavoured I have 
tried ; moreover, the fruit is very fleshy and with very few seeds. There 
is one aspect of Tomato culture which 1 do not remember to have seen 
noted, and that is the advantage of ripening the fruit in a warm tem¬ 
perature. The difference between fruit ripened in a low temperature 
