386 
THE LADIES' FLORAL CABINET. 
the London Garden gives some excellent counsel on 
this point, showing how separate color schemes can be 
effectively worked out, 
“One or two colors used temperately and with careful 
judgment will produce nobler and richer results than 
ma ny c olors purposely contrasted or wantonly jum¬ 
bled; and the formally designed garden that is an archi¬ 
tectural adjunct ”to an imposing building demands'^ a 
lignified unity 'of coloring rather than the petty and 
frivolous effects so comonly obtained by the misuse of 
many colors As practical examples of simple harmo¬ 
nies, let us take a scheme of red for summer bedding. 
It may range from palest pink to nearly black, the 
flowers being Pelargoniums in many shades of pink, 
rose, salmon and scarlet; Verbenas, red and pink; and 
judicious mixtures of Iresine, Alternanthera, Amaran- 
tus, the dark Ajuga, and red-foliaged Oxalis. Still finer 
is a color scheme of yellow and orange, worked out with 
some eight varieties of Marigold, Zinnias, Calceolarias, 
and Nasturtiums—a long range of bright, rich color, 
from palest buff and primrose to deepest mahogany. 
Such examples as these, of strong, warm coloring, are 
admirably adapted for large spaces of bedded garden. 
Where a small space has to be dealt with, it would bet¬ 
ter suit arrangements of blue, with white and palest 
yellow, or of purple and lilac, with gray foliage. A satis¬ 
factory example of the latter could be worked out with 
beds of purple and lilac Clematis trained over a carpet 
of Cineraria maritima, or one of the white-foliaged 
Centaureas and Heliotropes and purple Verbenas, with 
silvery foliage of Cerastium, Antennaria, or Stachys 
lanata. These are some simple examples easily carried 
out. The principle once seen and understood, and the 
operator having a perception of color harmonies, modi¬ 
fications will suggest themselves, and a correct working 
with two or more colors will be practicable; but the 
simpler ways are the best, and will always give the 
nobler result.”— Philadelphia Press. 
BELL-FLOWERS. 
A remarkably pretty name for a beautiful family of 
plants, would be our first thought on making an ac¬ 
quaintance with these lovely flowers. They stand 
alone, a compact class, comprising very few species 
that cannot be turned to good account either for the 
border, rockery, or pot culture. They are very numer¬ 
ous, so there are plenty to chose from, and the family 
ikeness runs through the entire group. But there is no 
sameness about them; some are only a few inches in 
height, while others develop into noble specimens, 
often attaining the height of six feet. This difference 
in habit renders them all the more useful, as they can 
be readily adapted for a variety of positions. What en¬ 
hances their value is that they are of easy culture, and 
therefore the amateur can devote a portion of his plot 
to the cultivation of Bill-flowers, or to speak more 
strictly, Campanulas. Without a slection of these 
plants, no collection however rich in other subjects, is 
complete. 
^Some of the species were introduced as far back as 
1597, and of these we may name, Campanula media, or 
the Canterbury bell, from Germany ; the chimney 
Bell-flower, C. pyramidalis, from Carniola. 
Now a word upon their cultivation. The best way to 
raise Campanulas is by seed, which should be sown as 
soon as it ripens, in pans filled with good friable soil, 
and placed in a cold frame, and as the seed is very 
small, the soil must be very fine on the surface. The 
seedlings must be potted off singly, as soon as large 
enough, into large or small sixties. To afford the 
young plants all the encouragement possible, prepare a 
nice light compost consisting of two parts loam, one 
part leaf mould, and a good dash of sharp sand. Take 
care not to give to much water, or the seeds will rot, 
but keep the soil moderately moist. There are several 
most elegant species, adapted for the greenhouse, when 
grown in eight inch pots with a good rich compost, 
The best pot plants are Campanula pyramidalis, C. 
grandiflora ( Platycodon ), C. media and C. turbinata. 
When planting on the rockery it will be found desir¬ 
able to use good rich soil and plenty of drainage. The 
double varieties and some of the species require to be 
propagated by the stems and roots early in spring, and 
by division of the roots during the spring and autumn 
months. But all the most distinctive kinds can be 
grown from seed. Other peculiarities will be noted in 
the description of the plants. 
Carpathian Campanula, C. carpatica. —This is a 
dwarf kind, growing about fifteen inches in height. 
The flowers are blue, and produced on long slender 
stalks. It is a thoroughly useful species for rockeries, 
borders, and makes showy subjects. It requires to be 
lifted in spring, the roots divided and replanted. By 
this method it blooms more profusely. Also as a pot 
plant it is a general favorite. The white variety is a 
very beautiful plant, and when the two colors are 
grown together they produce an excellent effect. They 
both produce seed in abundance. 
Fragile Campanula, C. fragilis. —A dwarf plant, 
with pale blue, broadly bell-shaped flowers. Plant it 
freely on the rockery in light sandy soil. This and 
C. pyramidalis make capital window plants. 
Gargano Harebell, C. garganica. — A very dwarf 
kind, growing about six inches in height. Flowers 
bluish, with white centres. Treat the same as C. 
fragilis. 
Violet Harebell. C. pulla. —A charming alpine 
plant. Flowers dark purple, bell-shaped, suitable for 
growing in pans or pots. It is best to confine this plant 
entirely to pots or the rockery, for it is likely to perish 
on borders. Its exquisite beauty will justify any 
amount of trouble, but it only requires a well drained 
soil of sandy peat. 
Dwarf Campanula, C.pumila. —This is one of the 
smallest of the family. It is not so rare as some of the 
other kinds, being often seen on rockeries and in gar¬ 
dens. The flowers are white, and it thrives in any 
situation, and in any soil. 
Peached-leaved Campanula, C. persicifolia. —One of 
the commonest and also handsomest species in culti¬ 
vation. There are several varieties, all worthy of exten¬ 
sive cultivation. It is also well adapted for pot culture. 
May be grown from seed, but division is the best way 
to increase the stock. 
