70 THE FLOEAL WOELD AND GAEDEN aUIDE. 



witli tlie plants), or a pit with the same command for admitting air 

 on all favourable occasions. The Chinese primrose requires the 

 treatment of an intermediate house through the winter months, in 

 which the temperature should not be less than 45° or exceed 60", 

 unless when there is sun, when 5° for an hour or two in addition 

 would do no harm. 



Another point to be remembered is, when watering the plants, 

 the water should be of the same temperature as the house or pit in 

 which the plants are kept. With a little care the plants will pro- 

 gress rapidly, and as soon as the flower-spikes can be seen in the 

 heart of the plant, weak manure-water should be given twice a week ; 

 only it must be weak, and should contain soot in solution if possible, 

 as this, with plenty of light and air, will give a fine colour to the 

 flowers, a great addition, and makes the plants of more value. It is 

 better to sow seed and raise young plants of the single varieties 

 annually, although if a very fine variety has been obtained, it may 

 be propagated and grown from year to year in the same manner as 

 described for double varieties. 



The usual way of propagating the double varieties is by cuttings 

 or splitting up the old plants. After blooming, the plants require a 

 season of rest (say a month), after which, if kept close, they will 

 grow freely, and produce plenty of cuttings. These should be planted 

 in single pots (thumbs) ; the end of the cutting should be cased 

 entirely in silver sand, and placed in a mild bottom-heat. In three 

 or four weeks they will be rooted sufficiently to be repotted into a 

 four-inch or five-inch pot, taking care to keep them growing without 

 check, and as soon as rooted to the side of the pot, again shifting 

 into a larger one. In this way fine plants can be grown in one sea- 

 son. To obtain, however, a fine specimen, instead of cutting the 

 plants to pieces for cuttings, repot the whole plant at once into a 

 five-inch or sis-inch pot, taking care in every stage to well drain 

 the pots, and when rooted nicely, pot into a 24-sized pot (eight 

 inches), or larger if required, although it will be well never to over- 

 pot any plants, as they will not make growth so quickly or so freely 

 as when given a moderate shift. 



To sum up in a few words, to grow primulas successfully, they 

 must have no check from the first start, and avoid the two extremes, 

 neither too cold or too hot an atmosjDhere, but the happy medium, 

 usually termed an intermediate house, 45' to 50' by night, ranging 

 from 55^ to 05' by day, but not the latter unless by sun-heat. AVater 

 carefully, neither drenching the plants nor allowing them to flag, and 

 you may expect some recompense for your trouble. These few hints 

 will apply more or less to all soft-wooded plants, only they do not all 

 require an intermediate house. A little practice will, we trust, with 

 these remarks, assist our readers in the cultivation of the primula 

 and other useful spring flowers. U. H. S. 



