1873.] PRIMROSE VIOLET GEM, 97 



PEIMROSE VIOLET GEM. 



WITH AN ILLUSTRATION. 



^>|N tlio annexed illustration Mr. Macfarlane has very correctly represented 



^ tlio new hardy Primrose called Violet Gem, which was exhibited by Mr. E. 



"f® Dean at the meeting of the Floral Committee on March 5th, and then 



"^ received a First-class Certificate. It is a very attractive variety, on account 



of its clear, bright magenta colour, and its numerous and evenly-set convex head 



of flowers. We may here appropriately introduce some remarks on Hardy Garden 



Primroses, by Mr. A. Dean : — 



Hitherto the varieties of Primula vulgaris with which we have been familiar 

 have been associated with forms and colours far from effective. The ragged 

 outline of the wild variety has largely manifested itself throughout most of the 

 seedlings bred from it, whilst in colour there was little to attract special attention. 

 One of the nearest approaches to P. vulgaris is P. altaica^ which is claimed to be 

 a distinct species, but differs in no great degree, except that the flowers are larger, 

 and of a rosy lilac colour. In the open air, P, altaica is somewhat disappointing, 

 its thinness of petal rendering it unable to withstand the rigours of the winter 

 season ; still, in spite of these drawbacks, its ragged outline, and its prominent 

 pin-eye, it is acknowledged to be a gem for the early spring garden. 



The new Hardy Primroses, of which Violet Gem is a type, are the results of 

 several years' careful attention and selection, the main object having been to secure 

 kinds that would bloom very early in the year, that were perfectly hardy, and that 

 had good form, effective colours, and that prominent feature in all good flowers of 

 the Primula family — a thrum-eye. One of the most useful breeders for this purpose 

 is P. vulgaris auriculo'jiora^ a velvety-crimson early sort, which was also certificated, 

 and which was so designated because of the great similarity between its flowers and 

 those of a good self Auricula. This variety, though an exceedingly shy seeder, 

 proved most effective when used to fertilise some of the then best forms of the 

 common Primrose. It has also been found that seeds from P. auriculcejlora 

 afforded but scanty variety of colour, whilst many of them ran off into the poly- 

 anth form, thus detracting considerably from their value and usefulness. As 

 affording both greater variety and a^<3feer maintenance of the true Primrose habit, 

 the common pin-eyed forms of P^^lgaris, fertilised with the pollen of the 

 former variety, proved to be the best female parents ; and although, in order to 

 secure some eighteen or twenty really good kinds, it has been necessary to grow 

 a large number of seedlings, many of which were of very indifferent form, yet 

 the gain has been so ample that further improvements may well be looked for 

 with speedier results. Violet Gem is remarkable for the dense, rich violet hue 

 of its flowers, and its charming bouquet-like habit of throwing its blooms up in a 

 rounded bunch, which is well protected by the foliage ; still it is a pin-eyed 

 flower, but the pistil is so far down the throat of the tube as to be quite out of 

 sight. In other seedlings, both the thrum-eye and excellent form are found 

 3rd sj:ries, — vi, f 



