194 THE FLORAL WOULD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



them to a condition of extraordinary beauty. To grow them well, 

 the soil should he a rich, sandy loam, the pots well drained, the 

 plants at all times preserved from any approach to drought, and 

 during summer to have abundance of water. The whole stock should 

 be re-potted annually, no matter how well the plants are doing ; the 

 proper time for this operation is the month of July, when they are 

 comparatively at rest. The following list includes all the varieties 

 known : — 



Amcena. — A robust-habited plant, (lowering freely. Flowers rich 

 rosy carmine ; one of the. finest of the group. The flowers in the 

 lower half of the plate very fairly represent this handsome variety. 



Intermedia. — This is well named for those who know the specific 

 form. The flowers are most abundantly produced, the colour lilac 

 carmine. A very desirable plant. 



Alia. — A fine plant, with large, handsome, pure white flowers, 

 which droop as if blown aside by the wind* The brilliant green, of 

 its leaves, and the snowy purity of its flowers, constitute this a 

 striking plant, notwithstanding the drooping of its flowers. 



Striata virida. — A pretty starry flower, white, with obscure green 

 stripe. A good companion plant to Intermedia. It will indicate 

 the exact relations of this variety, and also exemplify the elegancies 

 of botanical nomenclature, if we add that its proper (or say legal) 

 name is Primula coriusoides v. ameeim s. v. alba s. s. v. striata viridis. 



]N\B. — A rose by any other name would smell as sweet ; and if 

 this primula bore a shorter name it would be none the less pretty. 

 Comfort from Horatius— 



". . . . Levins fit patientiS 



Quicquid corrigera est neias." 



Grandiflora is apocryphal. When a plant of Amcena is extra well 

 grown it becomes " Grandiflora," and vice versa, if Grandiflora is only 

 middling well grown, it becomes "Amcena." To put the case in plain 

 English, Grandiflora is a nursery name for a nonentity. 



Oculata is only a good state of Amcena, showing a distinct white 

 eye. To repeat the solemn truth just uttered, Oculata is a nursery 

 name for a nonentity. 



liilacina is an exquisitely beautiful plant, as the topmost figure 

 in our plate will indicate. The flowers are large, quite flat, the 

 edges fringed or lacerated, the colour palest blush, overlaid with 

 delicate vein3 of lilac and palest purplish rose. This and Amcena, 

 which is shown in the lower part of the plate, are the best of the 

 group, but the others we have recommended are quite needful to any 

 cultivator who can find amusement in the cultivation of first-class 

 frame and Alpine plants. 



Of the charming P. Japonica and P. VerticiUaia we must seek an 

 early opportunity to discourse, perhaps with the aid of our artist, 

 who tries hard aud with honourable zeal to "paint like nature." 



S.H. 



