March 13, 1909. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
The Caucasian . . . 
- Scabious = 
(Scabiosa caucasica). 
We have quite a number of plants from 
the Caucasus, including some very useful 
subjects for the hardy herbaceous border. 
Of all the perennial species of Scabious 
in gardens the above is one of the most 
popular if not the most frequently culti¬ 
vated of all. When growing vigorously 
the plant usually stands about 18 in. to 
2 ft. high, according to the fertility-of the 
soil and the rainfall of the district. The 
leaves are more or less deeply divided like 
most of the species of Scabious, though 
less so than the dwarf species suitable for 
the rockery. The stems bear solitary 
heads of flowers on long slender stems, 
so that they are very useful for cut flower 
purposes, apart from the decoration of the 
border itself. 
Those who have an old plant can 
readily multiply it by lifting it in spring, 
just when growth is commencing, and 
divide it into a number of pieces, each 
with a crown or more and roots attached. 
These when planted firmly in freshly dug 
soil will readily become established and 
make good flowering plants in July, 
August, and sometimes later. There is a 
certain amount of interest attached to 
the raising of plants from seeds, as they 
vary to some extent, and very often the 
cultivator is able to single out a plant or 
two which differs from its parent in hav¬ 
ing larger flowers—it may be darker or 
lighter in colour and altogether worthy 
of preservation. Both the light and the 
dark blue flowers are very handsome. 
Rainer’s . , . 
= Bellflower = 
(Campanula Raineri). 
Amongst the numerous Bellflowers in 
cultivation there is an immense amount 
of variation in height, from plants that 
merely hug the surface of the ground to 
those that are 4 ft. or 3 ft. high. That 
under notice is one of the most inter¬ 
esting of the very dwarf ones. The stems 
only rise 2 in. to 3 in. above ground and 
become branched, each branch bearing 
one large, erect, light blue, bell-shap_ed 
flower. These flowers are of a large size 
by comparison with the tiny plant. The 
leaves are produced in rosettes that lie 
close to the ground and may be more 
or less hidden by the flowers where the 
plant blooms well. This Bellflower is a 
native of Italy and judging from that and 
its dwarf habit the cultivator will plant 
it on a well-drained slope or pocket on 
the rockery. It is not particular in the 
matter of soil, but sand and leaf-mould 
mixed with the ordinary staple will assist 
it in making good growth. The soil 
should, of course, be well drained so that 
there will be no stagnant moisture about 
the roots in winter. The plant blooms m 
June and July. 
Scabiosa caucasica. 
[Maclaren and Sons. 
Campanula Raineri. 
