56 



IRISH GARDENING. 



ample leaves of a bright green colour and forms a 

 woody rootstock. The flowers are of a deep golden 

 yellow borne in an umbel on a tall scape held 

 well above the foliage. When doing well this is 

 a handsome L=;pecies and likes a rich loamy soil 

 and sun. For years a good clump flourished in a 

 sunny border in the Botanic Gardens at Glas- 

 nevin, in deep soil, receiving an annual top- 

 dressing of sand, peat and leaf -mould. It will do 

 equally well on the rock garden given similar 

 conditions. 



P. marginata is one of the most charming of tlic 

 .species related to P. Auricula, and in one form 

 or another is to be foiuid in most garden.^ where 

 alpines are grown. The ornamental character of 



small rosette of smooth, green leave.^ and pro- 

 duces a flower scape from six to eight inches 

 high, bearing at its summit niunerous lilac 

 fiower.> each with a conspicuous wliite " eye." 



P. viscosa is much confused with P. hirsuta, 

 and it is probable that most of the Primvdas 

 grown in gardens as P. viscoia are really forms of 

 hirsuta. One form of P. viscosa which seems 

 generally correct is P. viscosa var. cynoglos-i- 

 folia, but although placed with others of similar 

 habit on the rock garden at Glasnevin it has 

 failed more than once to become established. 



There i'S a group of European Priumlas with 

 comparatively small, rather stiff, smooth leaves, 

 which contains some of the prettiest species, and 



PlilMn.A WlNTEm 



the Rock (larden, (ilasnevin. 



Ilic leaves is in itself sufficient attiaciioii. ImiI the 

 flowers produced in Marcli and Ainil are also 

 beautiful. The leaves arc prettily i-ierrated along 

 their margins and furnished below with a mealy 

 powder, which shows on the margins from above. 

 The flowers vary in size and colour, .some l)eing 

 pale lilac and others of an almost violet shade; 

 the )>est form known to the writer is that called 

 Jjinda I'ope, wliich has hand'iome broad leaves 

 and heads of large flowers deep lilac in colour. 

 P. marginata alba is not of much decorative 

 value, not being pure white. 



P. marginata is easily grown in gritty loam and 

 leafsoil, in a half-sliady position. When the 

 sterna become long and bare tlie j)lants should be 

 lifted after flowering and replanted down to the 

 leaves, and an annual top-dressing of loam and 

 leaf-soil is Vjeneficial. P. carniolica, from South 

 Austria, is a lovely species and growj well in 

 conditions that suit P. marginata. It forms a 



they are generally easy to manage. P. '.>pectabilis 

 Jfinus a rosette of smooth, stiff leaves, .somewhat 

 viscid and fairly broad in comparison to their 

 length. Tiie flower scape grow.-; some four or five 

 inches high, liearing several delightful rosy 

 mauve flowers; loam, leafsoil and sharp grit suits 

 it, and a half-shady position. P. glaucescens, 

 often grown as P. calycina, is an attractive 

 species, and was well shown in Dublin some years 

 ago by the late Tully Nurserie-j. From rosettes 

 of smooth, grey-green leaves arise the rather 

 sliort flower scapes carrying several fairly large 

 flowers, which, in tlie best form, are of a fine 

 ro-;e colour. P. longol^arda is also grown at Glas- 

 nevin; it is similar to l)ut smaller than glauce- 

 scens and was classed by Pax as a sul)-";pecics of 

 P. spectabiliSj but by others is considered a variety 

 of the former.. 



P. Wulfeniana, from the Austrian Alps, is a good 

 doer, and does not object to a fair amount of sun. 



