1881 .] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
481 
The Pyramidal Bellflower. 
In describing one of the newer garden spe¬ 
cies of Bellflower ( Campanula Tenorei), in 
September last, we called attention to the 
great variety in size, form, and habit, pre¬ 
sented by the plants of this single genus. In 
enumerating some of the unlike forms, we 
omitted to mention that there is one found 
in our wet meadows and boggy places, that 
has so weak and slender a stem that it sup¬ 
the pyramidal bellflower (Campanula pyramidalis). 
Though somewhat out o f fashion in England, 
the Hollanders still cultivate this fine plant 
as of old, and use it to ornament their halls 
and stair-cases, and to stand at the fire-place 
in the summer season. To us, a plant once 
beautiful is always beautiful, and the fact 
that it is old-fashioned, and has been grown 
and cherished for generations, gives it only a 
greater claim on our consideration. Having 
it well started in the open ground we hope to 
try it in-doors. As with other plants of its 
While we admire annuals, and the tender 
plants known collectively as “ bedding 
plants,” as much as any one, we do not like to 
see our flower lovers deprive themselves of a 
large class of most interesting and beautiful 
plants, merely because they do not “bloom 
the first season.” The seeds of perennial 
plants must be sown one year in advance in 
order to get plants strong enough to bloom 
the next year. Our amateurs must do this, 
unless they choose to purchase the seedlings 
ports itself by clinging to grasses and other 
plants. It cannot properly be called a climber, 
but its slender stem is angled, and the angles 
are furnished with minute hooks, which al¬ 
low it to cling to other plants. This species 
is the Marsh Bellflower ( C. aparinoides). One 
at first sight would hardly suppose that this 
delicate little wild flower belonged to the 
same genus with the sturdy garden plant 
here figured, the Pyramidal Bellflower ( C . 
pyramidalis). The difference is in size and 
manner of growth only; an examination of 
the flowers would show the structure to be 
very nearly alike in both. The Pyramidal 
Bellflower ( Campanula pyramidalis), is a 
native of the mountains of Southern Europe. 
It is one of those grand old plants, formerly 
in great favor in England, but which have 
been pushed aside by new introductions. On 
the continent it still retains its popularity, 
while in this country it is so seldom seen in 
cultivation that it has all the variety of a 
novelty. We are glad that there is a growing 
taste for perennial plants in this country. 
of those who raise them. The Pyramidal 
Bellflower has a strong stem from four to six 
feet high. The lower leaves are broad and 
heart shaped. The abundant shallow, bright 
blue flowers are about two inches across, are 
placed closely upon the stem, and form a 
floral spike of rare beaJuty, which continues 
in perfection, if shaded from the sun, for two 
months or more. The engraving, taken from 
a seedling plant in its first year of blooming, 
shows but a simple stem. When the plant 
gets stronger, the stem throws up several erect 
branches from the base, and the numerous 
stems together form a floral pyramid which 
gives significance to the specific name— 
pyramidalis. There is a variety with pure 
white flowers. Besides its use as a border 
ornament, this species does well in pot cul¬ 
ture. In some parts of England it is a popu¬ 
lar plant in the cottage windows, where very 
fine specimens are sometimes met with. It 
is in England often called the “Chimney 
Bellflower,” as it was formerly grown by the 
6ide of the fire-place in the summer months. 
class, the seeds should be sown as soon as 
ripe, in this climate in September or October, 
and the young plants should be protected 
in a cold frame, or if in an open border, by 
a covering of evergreen boughs. The seed¬ 
lings mostly flower the second year, though 
some wait until the third. Established plants 
are readily multiplied by dividing the clumps. 
The Mexican Drop-Seed Grass. 
In examining the stock of a school-furnish¬ 
ing store in a German city, we saw large 
sheets, mounted like maps, upon which the 
various plants of field and garden cultivation 
were represented in their proper colors. Upon 
similar sheets, there were given with equal 
fidelity, the weeds of cultivation, in all cases 
the various common and the botanical names 
being given. These are for hanging upon 
the walls of the school-house, where they are 
both decorative and instructive. An ordi¬ 
narily bright child, from seeing these pic¬ 
tures every day, would learn the appearance 
