1869.] HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 409 



quarters and well watered after planting, when they will need little 

 more attention for the season beyond keeping them clean. If the 

 seeds are sown in the end of March, the plants treated as above 

 directed will bloom the following spring. In the case of getting up 

 large quantities of Primroses and Polyanthuses, for the purpose of 

 planting out in woods and suchlike places, the foregoing directions 

 would be troublesome and expensive, as it is only meant for the more 

 valuable and rare species and varieties. The common varieties are 

 best sown on a warm border in the beginning of April, in beds, broad- 

 cast or in drills, and, when fit to handle, planted out in nursing-lines 

 in rich soil weU manured with old hotbed dung. Cuttings are best 

 put in in spring, when growth has fairly begun : the same soil as re- 

 commended for seeds is suitable for cuttings. Division should be 

 done first after flowering is over, unless large increase of particular 

 sorts should be desired, or when the plant is very weak and would 

 obviously be invigorated by being divided immediately before flower- 

 ing commences ; in such cases everything should be done to prolong 

 the growing period, and all flowers removed as soon as they can be got 

 hold off". Under the name P. veris, Linnaeus included the three forms 

 of Primula most common in this country, — the Primrose, P. vulgaris ; 

 the Oxlip, P. elatior ; and the Cowslip, P. veris of modern botanists, 

 being considered by him essentially the same for the purposes of science. 

 But to gardeners and florists it is convenient to distinguish between 

 the three forms, which are well marked and pretty constant in culti- 

 vation, at least P. veris, the Cowslip. The common flower-stalk in this 

 form rises considerably above the leaves, supporting an umbel of 

 flowers; and in the single varieties, the corolla is small and cup- 

 shaped — features that are lost sight of in the double varieties, or flor- 

 ists' Polyanthuses. Prom this form there are many varieties, some of 

 which are most beautiful things in their season, and worthy a place 

 among choice plants. The commoner single sorts are suitable for 

 planting in woods and on banks, and about the edges of masses of 

 shrubs. 



J^. vulgaris. — The Primrose is distinguished from the Cowslip by 

 the flower-stalks having the appearance of springing directly from the 

 root, and bearing each only one flower : there is, however, a common 

 footstalk so short as to be concealed by the leaves. The corolla in 

 the Primrose is larger than that of the Cowslip, and flat. There are 

 many very interesting and beautiful varieties of Primrose, both single 

 and double ; the single varieties need not be enumerated, but are very 

 useful for planting out in clumps or patches, as recommended for the 

 commoner forms of Cowslip. The best of the double varieties are the 

 flesh-coloured, the white, the sulphur, the lilac, the red, the coppery, 



