JuQO 10, 1869. ] 



JOUBNAL OF HORTIOUIiTUKE AND COTTAGE GABPENER. 



391 



oept for its sap, and as an ornamantal tree. The Bird's-eye 

 M*ple is to bo found on an islaud iu (he Lake of the Woods. 



Our wild fruits consist of tbo Plum, Black Chorry and 

 Choke Cherries, Strawborrj", Raspberry, Sorvioeberry, Wliortlo 

 or Huckleberry, Moosoberry, Pombiua I3oiry, Cranberry, Black 

 Currant, Red Currant, and the Hazel Nu^. 



Thawild Red Plum is much used for preserves, and is in 

 great demand at tha proper season. This fruit is much im- 

 proved by cultivation, and will afford a flue stock for tho 

 grafting of foreign varieties. The Serviceberry is very abun- 

 dant, and is dried by the Indians and others in great quantities. 

 It then resembles tho Jlnlaga Currants, and is used for tho 

 same purposes. It is also used iu what is called berry pemican. 



Our prairies are covered with nutritious grasses, which are 

 the only food for our stock bsth summer and winter. Upon 

 the Saskatchev,an, the wild PeaorVotoh mingles with the grasses 

 of the prairie and affords feed of which the animals are in- 

 ordinately fond. — (Noy'-Westcr.) 



"BEING THE RATHE PRIMROSE." 



" Milder pfiles and wnrmer benms 

 May the gaudier n->w'rets rear; 

 But to mo tho Primrose aepms 

 Fairest gem tlint decks the year." 



Most interesting is it from time to time to take up " our 

 Journal," after the toils of the day are pa;t, and cou over the 

 accounts of winter aud spring gtirdening. A foreigner mi^lit 

 think the practice is still in its iufsncy — just beginning to make 

 itself known. Well, let us go on, trufttiug tliat all interested in 

 the cultivation of spring flowers will join in the revival, and 

 tell as of their success or of their inability to succeed, as the 

 case may be. 



Among tho many plants used for spring gardening I know 

 none more interesting than the extensive family of Primulas, 

 and much do I wonder why more has not been said about them. 

 I Lave no fear of being coutrauioted when I say that every 

 living person from childhood to eld age likes Primroses. No 

 doubt the Auriculas hold first position, and deservedly so, for 

 in reality they are some of Flora's choicest gems. No one can 

 look on the beauties with which they are gifted without delisht. 

 Staged for exhibition and well arranged, I have known thera 

 the prime object of admirsHou. Much has been said at dif- 

 ferent times and in different places about their cultivation, and 

 I am sorry to see them in so few hands. To obtain a collection 

 requires money, time, patienc.?, experience, and perseverance, 

 and then to keep them all right is no easy matter. We are not 

 all in possession of these requisites to procure a first-rate coi- 

 lectiou, but I hope to see the time when Primroses will be within 

 the reach of many more who are iulerested iu them. IE wo 

 cannot all be exhibitors, we can have a few in our borders to 

 afford us pleasure during spring and early summer. Raising 

 them from seed is an interesting pursuit ; seed is cheap, a 

 packet often aiifords many varieties, and there is some charm 

 aboQt a seedling at all times. 



Primulas have a very extensive range, inhabitiug widely 

 different situations ; but what we call " our own Primroses " — 

 ior they are among the prime heralda of spring, often peeping 

 np among the leaves and grass iu some sheltered nook, re- 

 minding us of tha spring time, and possesjing an interest all 

 their own — who is not delighted with them at their first ap- 

 pearance iu March's chilly days? How many of us have 

 been delightea in the April sunshine with the thought of a 

 ramble to the Primrose hill to cnll our handful of its occupants, 

 and carolling as we advanced towards them in our childish 

 glee — aye, and in our more matured years too — 



" The Primrose — the Primrose peeping is seen 

 'Mid pale Moss aad 'mid darker Ivy green." 



Pity it is that such lovely flowers are not more cared for. 

 It is true that we have a few different kinds in cultivation, but 

 we cannot have all. Like many other families of plants, their 

 name is legion. We hear now and then of this and the other 

 person using them for early decoration, for which many oi 

 them are well adapted — by many I mean the hardiest and the 

 earliest. 



All are very beautiful, but more especially those gems known 

 as double-floweriug kinds — as tho double lilac, double white, 

 the crimson, the yellow, and the intermediate colours. Then 

 we have somo others that are really beautiful, being of taller 

 habit, as Negro Boy and Double S«-eep, wliich I think in early 

 spring are invaluable ; and when a collection of them is 

 gathered together and judiciously arranged no flowers iu their 



season can surpass them. I am more in love with them than 

 I ever was, since I saw this spring a gathering of tho Primula 

 clan. It will not be easily erased from ray memory. Four 

 distinct kiuds of douldo Primroses were planted alternately in 

 groups, and among thorn was planted Veronica syriaca, white 

 and blue. Sown in tbo autumn, and having stood through the 

 winter without protection, tlio Veronica rankos much stronger 

 plants than when sown in the summer. I believe the stronger 

 the plants tho more intense the colour. 



Many kinds of Primroses may be used in several ways for 

 decorative purposes. For pots in-doors they are not to be 

 despised, jlost of tijem are easy to cultivate, but the Auricula 

 requires care. The commoner kinds will do well iu any ordi- 

 nary soil, but most of them liko a sound, retentive, moist 

 loam with leaf mould and a little sand. They prefer a rather 

 shaded situation to make their growth. After they have done 

 blooming they should be transplanted ; those intended for the 

 spring garden are best potted and plunged in the shade, and 

 watered as needed, because drought is injurious to them. The 

 others may be planted in shady borders whore they are to re- 

 main. 



There are many other kinds really beautiful — as cortusoides 

 and deniicLiIata, both very fine when well cultivated — margi- 

 nata, iuvolncrata, nivalis, to say nothing of those of later in- 

 troduction, as amoBna (by some called ooncolor), longiflora, 

 purpurea, viscosa, and many more. 



There is another star in the train, however, I must mention, 

 and which is not seen nearly so often as it ought to bo. Primula 

 farinosa ; it grows well in a moist shady border, and is not 

 very p.irticular as to soil, though in its native places it is met 

 with in moist boggy meadows and pastures by the sides of 

 water, in company with Pingiiicula vulgaris, and in mountain 

 pastures. To see Primula farinosa in its glory, you must look 

 upon acres of ground studded over with its lilac, star-like 

 flowers — that is a sight not easily forgotten ! 



Let me add a word about ecotica, a splendid little fellow but 

 seldom seen. It leaves the impression that it is closely allied 

 to farinosa, but it is much less and of a diliferent habit and 

 colour. When met with in iirst-rato trim it is a gem of the 

 first water. 



I trust tho time is not far distant when wo s'uall see this 

 favourite race of pilauts miish improved, and far more cul- 

 tivated. They will repay any amount of trouble and expense 

 wo may bestow upon them, but they cannot bo had without 

 both. Seed of many kinds may be procured at a cheap rate, 

 and a packet will sometimos afford hundreds of plants of 

 the commoner kicds of different shades. For those sparkling 

 gems that appear from time to time by name we must apply to 

 the vendors and pay for them, and then they are not too dear, 

 although somo of them appear to have an almost fabulous 

 price attached to them — but they are worth it. — M. H., Acklam 

 Hall, Middlcshronrjh-an-Tees. 



NEW HOTHOUSE BOILER. 



I HAVE, at last, the first of Foster's patent hothouse boilers at 

 work. I was so pleased with the model that I ordered one at 

 once, and expected to have it fixed some weeks since. It 

 appears, however, there were unexpected difiiculties encountered 

 in tho casting, but the skill at the command of the great 

 Butterley Company has oT»icome them. I am plad to say it 

 quite answers my expectation ; indeed, it could hardly fail to 

 do so. 



As the fire comes in contact with nothing but,irou backed 

 by water, and traverses tha boiler three times from end to end 

 before entering the flue, it must be much superior to any boiler 

 which has come under my notice. A mere handful of fire made 

 tha water iu (iOO feet of 4 ioch pipe quite hot whilst I was at 

 dinner, and so rapid was tbe circulation that on turning a 

 valvo connecting 200 more feet of piping in a frame, the return 

 pipe was quite hot iu ten minutes. Though my boiler is only 

 the second size— 3 feet 9 inches long — I feel it has com- 

 paratively nothing to do. I intend to add GOO feet of piping to 

 it, and then I tbiuk it wUl be far auore than suflioient for its 

 work. 



Believing as I do that wrought iron boilers, from their liability 

 to rust when not at work, are quite unfit for horticultural pur- 

 poses, I feel that the iuveiitor of a cast-iron boiler more perfect 

 iu form than any yet maiie of wrought iron, has conferred a 

 great benefit on the g.irofci.ing world. 

 I To the owner of one house where coals are cheap, it may 



