April 18, 1908 



HOKTlCULTURi: 



525 



Primula sinensis 



GiAKT Pink 



Now that the time is fast approaching for sowing seed 

 for this beautiful greenhouse annual, a few words re- 

 garding it may not be out of place. I do not know of 

 any primula wliich shows a greater diversity of color 

 in its diilerent varieties; the colors of the flowers rang- 

 ing from white to deep crimson. Possibly not one of 

 our greenhouse plants has recived more attention than 

 the Chinese Primula, and the improvement which has 

 taken place by careful selection and hybridization can 

 only be realized when the improved forms of today are 

 placed side by side with the plant as originally intro- 

 duced with its insignificant flowers and poor color. Not 

 only has the flower been developed into beautiful single 

 and double forms of superb color, but the foliage itself 

 has undergone such changes that the plants are very 

 ornamental subjects before the flowering period is 

 reached. 



Perliaps it would be well to mention a few of the 

 choicest varieties at present in cultivation as a guide to 

 growers in selecting their seed for the present season's 

 sowing. The following named varieties are among the 

 best that have been produced and worthy of a place in 

 any greenhouse : 



Crimson King, a fine deep crimson with individual 

 flowers measuring nearly two inches in diameter, ten to 

 twelve flowers being produced on the umbel while at 

 least three inflorescences are borne by the plant during 

 the flowering period; Giant White, a remarkable white 

 variety; The Duches.';, pink, dark in the center and ap- 

 proaching white near the outside of the corolla ; The 

 Czar, dark blue; Pink Beauty, blush pink, with flowers 

 two inches or more in diameter; Giant Pink, large 

 pink flowers borne on immense umbels and certainly 

 one of the best forms of Primula sinensis. 



Primula sinensis is not at all difficult of culture but 

 like most other plants repays the cultivator who ex- 

 ercises great care in its cultivation. And surely a plant 

 which blooms continually for a period of from eight 



to twelve weeks is deserving of the most careful treat- 

 ment. The flowering period may be lengthened if 

 successive sowings are made from the beginning of May 

 until the end of June or even later. Clean pots should 

 always be used, preferably new ones, care being taken to 

 soak them for a few minutes in water. Good drainage 

 should be provided because it is only by paying attention 

 to seeming trifles that good plants can be grown and 

 the priniida greatly resents a stagnant condition of soil 

 luoisture. 



Five-inch pots or pans are good for seed sowing pur- 

 poses and after drainage is afforfed, the compost, which 

 consists of good fibrous loam and leaf soil in equal pro- 

 portions, run through a half-inch sieve and mixed with 

 a small amount of sand, should be placed fairly 

 firm in the pots to within half an inch of the top. Sand 

 should then be sprinkled thinly on the surface and the 

 seeds evenly but not too thickly distributed on the 

 sand. The seeds should then be covered very lightly 

 with a layer of fine soil and, after being carefully 

 watered in, the pots should be allowed to drain and 

 then be jilaced in a sheltered position in the green- 

 house. 



During germination a temperature of from CO to 05 

 degrees should be maintained, never allowing a rise 

 above 70 degrees F. When the seedlings ,.re large cnorgh 

 to handle, prick them off singly around the edges of 

 small pans and keep them close for a few days until 

 they are established, after which admit air in gradually 

 increasing quantities until the plants will bear placing 

 in their permanent quarters. Transfer to thumb pots 

 and when these are filled with roots move the plants 

 as requisite to larger pots. Expose freely to the air 

 during the hot months of the year, always remembering 

 to afford protection from draughts and to provide shade 

 from the direct rays of the sun. 



Throw away all sickly plants and always aim at pro- 

 ducing robust growth, not forgeting that the Primula 

 strongly resents any attempt at rapid forcing and the 

 longer the period of growtli the stronger the plants 

 will be. 



Always bear in mind that the art of the gardener 

 consists not only in knowing what to grow or what 

 to keep but also in what to throw away, and remem- 



TnE Czar 



