66 



IRISH CAIIDENING 



llowcr. TIk- iiiajoiit \ will lto into the idrmcr 

 size, iiiul each pot van lie tilled oiie-eiL'lith <>t it-- 

 tiepth with drainage. A suit able rooting' met 1 in in 

 consists of the l)est lii)idiis loam two paits. (Uic 

 ]tart leaf iiioiild. and one part from an old 

 mushroom hed. with a sprinklinir of silver saiul 

 to render the whole porous. The soil is pressed 

 moderately lirm, aud sulhcient wati-r is applied 

 to wet the whole of tiie comixist. Cold frames 

 with a north aspt-ct. or w heic a little shade can 



he atfordcd. will sni 

 months, and until 

 the niuhts hcuin to 

 uet cold, wlu'n it will 

 he necessary to ]thnc 

 t hem in a cool siri'cn- 

 h o u se. Throujihont 

 their existence careful 

 watering is necessary ; 

 hoth extremes must 

 heavoitled. as a sud- 

 den drought is just as 

 fatal as excessive mois- 

 tnre. A cool ])ottoin 

 is also essential, and 

 much preferred l»y 

 I*riniulas to an open 

 wood staging, wliile 

 it also prevents them 

 becoming dry in a 

 short time. 



Insect pests are not 

 troublesome, excejit 

 perhaps greenfly, bnt 

 these are e a s i I \ 

 destroyed In" light 

 fumigations. 



Primula 

 denticulata. 



th 



md 



Hy 



a f t e r 

 l)lants 

 make 



I'hOto h,j1 



PK]MUr..\ DENTK 



Seldom if ever before 

 has this Himalayan 

 Primrose flowered 



with such lavish profusion as it has this 

 year, in spite of a wretched late cold season. 

 The number and size of the heads produced by 

 each plant has been C{uite exceptional, and as 

 the best forms only have been retained 

 after some years of rigorous selection, the results 

 are eminently satisfactory. The position in 

 which the particular plants referred to grow is 

 fairly shaded by yew trees and Rhododendrons 

 and the soil is largely that in which Rhododen- 

 drons are cultivated. The elevation varies from 

 perhaps 3 feet to 6 or 8 feet above the surround- 



leforme.l. 

 the time tliese note's 

 appear the lloweis 

 uill ha\e la.led. and 

 aii\ not i((|nired for 

 ><vvi\ should be 

 at o n c e re m o \ ed. 

 Immediately 

 iloweiiiiL;. th 

 p.oe.ed to 

 rapid growth and 

 should be divided 

 Ix'foie this is 1(„, far 

 adxanced. Division 

 is im|)erative if a line 

 display of flowers is 

 desii(>d. and adequate 

 nourishment in the 

 way of decayed ma- 

 nure is e(piall\' essen- 

 tial. Old, thoroughly 

 rotten cow manuic 

 is first rate for mixing 

 with the soil on re- 

 ])lanting the divisions, 

 and failing this, old 

 hot -bed material or 

 very old decayed 

 stable manure may be 

 used. The thing to 

 ensure is a sufficient 

 sup])ly of nitrogenous 

 food material, so that 

 strong healthy crowns 

 may be formed before winter. There are 

 several varieties of P. denticulata, among 

 which the pure white form is conspicuous. 

 Although the heads are usually smaller than the 

 common lilac-coloured form, they are still very 

 beantifid. P. denticulata var. Cashmiriana is 

 distinct, having fine heads of dark lilac flowers, 

 while the under side of the leaves, and also the 

 flower stems, are covered with yellow powder. 

 Considerable variation is frequently seen among 

 seedlings, and as seed usually sets freely some 

 fine forms mav be selected. J. W. B. 



.AT.\ .\T (iL.\.sM-.VIN. 



