January 15, 1910 



HORTICULTURE 



69 



Plant Novelties From China 



The Primrose family is justly appreciated one of the 

 most delightful and useful. For pot-culture the garden 

 varieties of Primula sinensis and P. obconica are indis- 

 pensable. The wild types of both these Primulas occur 

 in the neighborhood of Ichang, Central China — P. si- 

 nensis on the bare limestone cliff of the gorges and P. 

 obconica on moist grassy banks. In all nearly a hun- 

 dred species of Primula are known from China where 

 the genus finds its headquarters. The great majority 

 of these are alpine plants and not suitable for general 

 cultivation. Some, however, are very amenable in this 

 matter and are distinct improvements on older denizens 

 for gardens. Primula pulverulenta, P. cockburniana 

 and P. Veitchii are three novelties of exceptional merit. 

 In habit and foliage the first-named resembles the well- 

 known P. japonica, but has flower-scapes 3 ft. or more 

 tall each bearing 9 to 11 whorls of flowers. The indi- 

 vidual flowers are a third larger than those of P. japon- 

 ica, rich crimson in color, with often twenty or more in 

 a single whorl. The flower-scapes are clothed with a 

 white farina (hence its specific name) and it is this 

 peculiarity together with its large flowers and taller 

 scapes that makes the new plant so very superior to P. 

 japonica and undoubtedly the finest hardy Primrose at 

 present in cultivation. P. pulverulenta is a true peren- 

 nial of vigorous growth, very floriferous and remains in 

 flower for a couple of months. P. cockburniana has 

 neat, ovate, obtuse, pale green leaves and bright orange- 

 scarlet flowers, an inch across, borne in several whorls 

 on scapes 1 to II/2 ft. tall. The color of the flowers in 

 this plant is unique in the family and one of the rarest 

 colors in the vegetable kingdom. Unfortunately, the 

 plant is practically a biennial. Hybridists, however, 

 have already secured several crosses between this Primu- 

 la and P. pulverulenta. Some of these have the peren- 

 nial character of the last-named with flowers the same as 

 P. cockburniana. 



In stature and habit these hybrids are intermediate. 

 "Unique" and "Unique Improved" are names given by 

 the raisers to these hybrids and there is a great possibil- 

 ity of a new race of hardy Primroses, distinguished by 

 these remarkable orange-scarlet flowers, being developed 

 from these two species. A shady position, fairly stiff 

 loam and cow dung with abundance of water at the 

 roots are the essentials in the successful culture of these 

 two new Primroses. An ideal spot would be the side of 

 a woodland stream free of rank weeds. 



Primula Veitchii is a true perennial, with leaves re- 

 sembling P. obconica, but with a dense felt of white 

 hairs on lower surface. The flowers are freely produced 

 in whorls on scapes 1 to 1% ft. tall, and are of a pleas- 

 ing bright rose-color. A hardy P. obconica sums up P. 

 Veitchii — Verb sap. A light loam, rich in leaf-soil, 

 and a moderately dry situation are necessary for its suc- 

 cessful culture. These Primulas seed freely and the 

 seeds germinate readily. 



The Fume-worts, of which over 60 species are known 

 from China, are mostly better suited for the rockery 

 than the ordinary garden. The best known of the fam- 

 ily is the old Dicentra (Dielytra) spectabile introduced 

 by Fortune, and now not so much cultivated as it de- 

 serves. A new species, just introduced and not yet in 

 commerce, is D. macrantha with axillary clusters of 

 large, pale yellow, pendulous flowers. This plant will 

 probably find many friends in due course. 



Very different to the above are Corydalis thalictrifolia 

 and C. Wilsoni. The first named has foliage resem- 

 bling the maiden-hair fern in shape, rather fleshy in 



CORTDAI.IS THALICTRIFOLIA 

 A new yellow-flowered greenhouse plant suitable for basket culture. 



texture, and erect racemes of large, yellow flowers pro- 

 duced in profusion. C. Wilsoni is a smaller plant with 

 finely cut foliage, covered with a white farina, and erect 

 racemes of golden-yellow flowers. Similar to this latter 

 are C. tomentosa and C. tomentella. These Corydalis 

 are denizens of limestone cliffs, growing in pockets in 

 company with Primula sinensis. Though not hardy 

 they have decorative value of no mean order, making 

 charming plants for pot, and more especially basket cul- 

 ture. Seeds sown in May in a cool greenhouse and the 

 seedlings potted on will flower the following winter. 

 Their culture is of the simplest and those on the lookout 

 for pleasing decorative plants, for basket culture or pots 

 in a cool greenhouse, will do well to give Corydalis thalic- 

 trifolia and C. Wilsoni a trial. 



Eehmannia angulata is a tall-growing biennial which 

 has become very popular on the other side for green- 

 house work. The large, foi-glove-like, rose-colored 

 flowers are produced in great profusion on branching 

 stems 6 feet or more tall. This plant requires liberal 

 treatment and when well-grown makes a highly decora- 

 tive plant especially useful for winter and early spring 

 work. This plant is easily raised from seeds which are 

 freely produced. Those who complain of Eehmannia 

 angulata being too strong-growing will welcome the ad- 

 vent of the dwarf-growing E. Henryi. This plant is 

 one of the Arnold Arboretum's recent introductions, 

 grows nine inches to a foot high, and has flowers as 

 large as E. angulata, pure white save for a touch of yel- 

 low within the throat. This plant has not been really 

 cultivated yet but the few plants that have flowered 

 give considerable promise. Hybridizing these two spe- 

 cies may produce a race of plants having greater decora- 

 tive value than the types and a much wider range in 

 color. With these Eehmannias, as with other of the 

 Novelties dealt with in these articles, the potential value 

 may prove of much the gi-eater importance to Horti- 

 culture. 



-^. 



iX-f-^^-v^ 



