March 6. 1909 



H o rticultuhe: 



313 



Primula Kewensis 



Kewensis will not flower freely, until the pots are well 

 matted with roots, by the planting out method the plants 

 are from a month to six weeks later in flowering than 

 those which have been grown in pots all summer. This 

 vear I noticed P. Kewensis grown in this manner, with 

 from a dozen to eighteen spikes in flower at one time, 

 each averaging about eighteen inches in length, foliage 

 being perfect, making a pot plant of unusual beauty and 

 elegance. This primula, from a decorative point of 

 view, is as near being perfect as one could wish. The 

 color of the flowers is of a delightful primrose shade, 

 the foliage is always healthy and green, and with a lit- 

 tle care in the watering and picking off dead flowers it 

 will last easily two or three weeks in the dwelling house. 

 As a commercial plant, or merely for decorative pur- 

 poses under glass P. Kewensis is well worthy of a trial. 



North Easton, Mass. 



This beautiful hybrid prinjula, which was sent over 

 from England a few years ago with such high recom- 

 mendations, has well justified the good opinions which 

 were given it by the raisers. Owing to its parentage it 

 was confidently expected to prove an acquisition of more 

 than ordinary merit, and so far as our experience goes, 

 we have found it to be the most useful primula in culti- 

 vation at the present time. 



The two parents of Primula Kewensis, Primulas 

 floribunda and verticillata, are both well known green- 

 house varieties, which have been extensively grown for 

 many years in cool houses, where they have been highly 

 valued. The hybrid variety has, however, far surpassed 

 its parents, being more floriferous, much more valuable 

 for decorative purposes and when well grown makes a 

 plant which for real beauty cannot be equalled by any 

 other primula in cultivation. 



There are quite a few people who have failed to get 

 good results with this primula. The most common com- 

 plaint is that their plants after having thrown up two 

 or three flower spikes, become exhausted, and cease to 

 produce more. Other growers have tried the plan of 

 "growing on" a few of their last year's plants, but the 

 experiment met with very indifferent results. 



Personally we have found no difficulty in growing 

 this primula. Our plan is to sow the seed about the 

 first week in February, and, as soon as the seedlings 

 are large enough, we prick them off into flats and place 

 them on shelves in the coolest house we have. When 

 the plants are ready for a shift we pot them into 2 1-2 

 inch pots and give successive shifts as required. Like 

 all other primulas they should be grown in frames out- 

 side during the summer months and kept well shaded. 



Perhaps the best method to follow, when growing 

 Kewensis for exhibition, or if you wish a batch for late 

 flowering, is to plant them out in cool frames, about the 

 beginning of June. By this method, they will make 

 huge plants for lifting and potting up, in the fall. As 



"^m^,.^. 



Pentstemons 



Memories of a choice bed of pentstemons are among 

 my earliest recollections of garden flowers and it seems 

 to me strange that such a beautiful flower should be so 

 little grown. Only in the last year or two have they 

 been seen at our exhibitions and gradually the quality 

 has been improved until now some of the finest strains 

 are offered by several enthusiasts who have evidently 

 woke up to the possibilities of this grand flower, and 

 there seems a probability that it will assume its place 

 among the finest of our half hardy perennials. 



The imported strains are undoubtedly the best, and 

 this can be readily explained when we consider that a 

 period of many years of the most careful selections has 

 been necessary to produce such perfection of form and 

 color as we see among the varieties of today. No hap- 

 hazard methods could produce the wonderful strains 

 now in evidence. The most beautiful colors and flowers 

 of immense size, combined with a strong sturdy growth 

 and long spikes of gorgeous bell-shaped flowers, makes 

 it one of the most indispensable garden flowers, for cut- 

 ting, in beds alone or mixed with other plants. 



Seed sown now will produce plants that will flower 

 this season, and cuttings may be taken in the fall, of any 

 desirable kinds worthy of growing another year. They 

 also make good pot plants for the decoration of the con- 

 servatory, and never fail to be admired. 



If, when planted out in beds, you find the tips of the 

 young leading shoots curled up, by investigating you 

 will find it is caused by a small grub which eats a hole 

 through the centre of the growth, but if these are gone 

 over carefully by hand and removed, even should the 

 centre gi'owth for the present be destroyed, the side 

 shoots will throw up strong and give an abundance of 

 flowers. If given a good rich soil to grow in nothing 

 will give more satisfactory results than a bed of 

 pentstemons. 



