COPVRIGHT, 1898, BY 



rUORISTS' PLIBblSmNG CO., 520-53S Caxton BuildinS. OMICftOO. 



Vol. I. 



CHICA.GO AND NEW YORK, MAY J9, 1898. 



No. 25. 



PRIMULA OBCONICA. 



I From advance sheets of the Fhtrists' Manual, In 

 William Scott] 



This is a true species of this very 

 large genus and less than twenty years 

 introduced to cultivation. The same 



fpcted and you now hear much less of 

 this annoying cliaracteristic than you 

 did a few years ago. Of all other 

 primulas adapted to pot culture this 

 has the longest season of flowering 

 One author says: "It flowers more or 

 less in a cool greenhouse or conserva- 



s^?a^i? 



Primula Obconica. 



general remarks will apply to P. oh- 

 conica as to the widely grown P. sin- 

 ensis. They like to he cool, airy and 

 there must be an entire absence of 

 dampness. Many profess to being 

 poisoned by handling this pretty plant, 

 but all people are certainly not so af- 



tory nearly all the year." We can cer- 

 tainly have it in flower from November 

 till well along in summer. 



Old plants can be divided in .June 

 and kept close and shaded in a frame 

 till they are rooted in their new pots, 

 but raising them from seed is more ex- 



peditious and entirely satisfactory. 

 Sow in April or May. or as soon in the 

 spring as you can get fresh seed. Their 

 season of flowering is not only of long 

 duration but they aie most prolific, 

 hundreds of their pale lilac umbellate 

 flowers being produced from one plant 

 in a 5 or 6-inch pot. When large 

 enough to handle pot the young plants 

 into 2-iuch pots and when well rooted 

 in those shift into a 3-inch. From this 

 time till the approach of hard weather 

 a cold-frame will suit them much bet- 

 ter than a greenhou;e. See that the 

 surface of the frame is dry. and raise 

 the sashes back and front, shading in 

 the hottest weather. In October shift 

 into their flowering pots; a 5-inch 

 ought to do. 



A good loam with a fifth of well rot- 

 ted leaf mould, or as a substitute for 

 the latter, well decomposed spent hops, 

 will grow them finely. They make lots 

 of root, so will tiike a liberal allowance 

 of water, particularly when flowering 

 profusely. A night temperature of 45 

 to 50 degrees will do nicely for the 

 winter months. Like most all of the 

 primulas they are exempt from the at- 

 tacks of any of our insect pests, but I 

 never noticed that they suffered in the 

 letist from fumigating while being in 

 the same house that it was necessary 

 to smoke for the benefit of other 

 plants. 



ROSE MARIE FAVIE. 



The introduction of polyantha roses 

 has given valuable material for mass- 

 ing and the illustration in May ."ith is- 

 sue shows the wonderful blooming 

 qualities of this variety. The flowers 

 are among the first to appear in 

 spring, and with only a few days' in- 

 termission continue to give a profuse 

 harvest until December. 



The plant is perfectly hardy in the 

 eastern states, and this adds to its 

 value for open ground culture. The 

 flowers are one and one-half inches in 

 diameter, pale rose at opening, but 



