360 



THE GAIiDENElVS MOXTIILV 



{December, 



are large enough to be transferred to two and a 

 half iiK'h pots, or three or four plants in a three- 

 inch pot; after potting, care must be taken 

 that the little plants are not allowed to wilt as 

 they are very sensitive in this respect. A piece 

 of paper placed over them will be all that is 

 necessary to protect them until they have started 

 young roots ; indeed at all stages of growth the 

 Primula must be carefully guarded from strong 

 sunshine. During the hot summer months a 

 cold frame is the best place for them, especially 

 if it be within the shade of a building or a tall 

 spreading tree — not beneath its branches, for the 

 drip might do serious injury to the delicate roots 

 of this plant. During rain they should be covered 

 by sash, but at no other time, giving them the 

 full benefit of the liuht and air. 



If a position for the frame cannot be had as 

 recommended, they may be shaded by screens 

 made of plastering lath, nailed about an inch 

 apart on a frame the size of the sash ; this will 

 admit air and light sufficient during the hottest 

 part of the day. At all times when the sun is 

 not shinning directly on them thej^ must be left 

 entirely uncovered, excepting as before men- 

 tioned, when it rains. 



At one time it was recommended that the 

 seed of the Chinese Primrose should be sown in 

 this climate in August or September, but we find 

 now that if the sowing of the seed is deferred 

 until so late we cannot get the plants in flower 

 until sometime after Chi'istmas. If there is any 

 time of the year when flowers are more welcome 

 than at another, it is at the gay and festive 

 Christmas time when nature slumbers and hu- 

 manit}' is on the alert to secure anything and 

 everything to make home cheerful. 



This plant is something more than a cut flower, 

 and not being overlarge it may be advantageously 

 used in all decorations where flowers and plants 

 have a place, as it is infinitel}^ more eftective 

 under artificial light than it is in the day-time. 



To get Primulas in flower by October the seed 

 should be sown in February. Let the strongest 

 plants be selected and encouraged, but by all 

 means avoid over-potting. I saw, a short time 

 ago, a fine strain of several hundred plants com- 

 pletely ruined through over-potting and injudi- 

 cious watering. In large establishments it is of 

 com'se necessary to make several sowings of 

 seeds at intervals of a month or six weeks apart 

 until August, but for a small greenhouse and 

 cultivation generally, one soAving will be suffi- 

 cient. The plants maybe brought on in batches 



by encouraging the strongest plants, as before 

 stated, and retarding the smaller ones. 



This Primula is not at all a free seeding plant, 

 the best way I havc^ found to deal with them is 

 to prepare a box of soil as before recommended 

 and set the plants, tbe seed of wiiich we wish to 

 secure on the box ; the seed as it falls, if the soil 

 is kept at the right degree of moisture, will most 

 of it grow, and the plants may be treated in the 

 way as before advised. 



In conclusion let me say, to be successful with 

 the Chinese Primrose, avoid extremes of all 

 kinds, give water when necessary — not every 

 day or every other day, but twice a day if the 

 plant is dry, and not for a week if it is moist. 



NERTERA DEPRESSA Banks. 



BY MR. A. VEITCH, NEW HAVEN, CONN. 



It is satisfactory to know that some interest is 

 now taken in this pretty little plant, for, although 

 long known to botanists, it is only of late years, 

 so far as I know, that attention has been be- 

 stowed upon its cultivation. 



G. J. B. is right in supposing it to be indige- 

 nous to some cool humid climate, as it is found in 

 the alpine districts of South America, at an 

 elevation of from 8000 to 10,000 feet, associated 

 with dwarf Acaenas, Hydrocotyles, Alchemillas, 

 &c., and with these forms a very thick and ver- 

 dant turf in moist situations. It belongs to the 

 extensive family of Cinchonaceaj, and i.s, of 

 course, nearly related to our beautiful Mitchella 

 repens, Oldenlandias and Houstonias, and is, 

 therefore, fitted to form agreeable companion- 

 ship with these in an alpine collection. 



It is of the easiest culture, and perhaps the 

 best method is to set out the plants in prepared 

 earth, in a frame, about the end of May, with 

 the back of the frame to the south, so as to secure 

 the greatest amount of shade, and if this does 

 not suffice, shaded sashes might be placed over 

 them, resting upon pieces of scantling laid on 

 the frame crosswa3^s. The sashes need only 

 be used in clear sunshine, and however the 

 weather may be, they should be removed every 

 night, so as to give the plants the full benefit of 

 fresh air, in which they delight. Tlie}'^ should 

 be kept constantly moist, and sprinkling over 

 head several times a day in hot dry weather will 

 do them much good. This method I have fol- 

 lowed for the past season with the best possible 

 results. The plants when set out were small ; 

 some of them are now in nine-inch pans, and 



