Arthur W. Hill 197 



malacoides seems no more tenable than that the deep rose colour of 

 some forms recently exhibited is due to the influence of the pollen 

 of P. rosea. According to the editorial note in the Gardeners' Chronicle 

 numerous experiments have been made to cross P. malacoides and 

 P. Forbesii, but no fertile seed has resulted. 



The most distinct colour form of P. malacoides is that known as 

 " Rose Queen," the flowers of which are of rich rosy colour. A figure 

 of this is given in The Garden of Feb. 27, 1915, p. 104. The variety, 

 was raised by Mrs Denison of Little Gaddesden, Berkhamsted, and 

 is very vigorous in habit with fine trusses of flowers. It differs from 

 other forms chiefly in the breadth of the perianth segments which have 

 become so much broadened that they touch one another and the flower 

 has a rounded outline more like that of a polyanthus. 



As in the case of P. obconica, the hybridisation of P. malacoides 

 with other species of Primida has been attempted by many gardeners, 

 but there is no evidence that success has attended any of the experi- 

 ments. The species in a remarkably short space of time has responded 

 to cultural conditions and has sported in the directions of doubling, 

 fimbriation of the corolla segments, albinism, and various colour 

 changes as well as in the direction of increased vegetative vigour. 

 All these changes however must be attributed to the skill of the 

 gardener rather than to the eiforts of the hybridiser. 



P. malacoides has varied under the influence of cultivation in 

 precisely the same manner as have P. sinensis and P. obconica^, but 

 the time interval required for the disturbance of its equilibrium has 

 been very short. 



1 It is of interest that P. denticulata which in 1912 was being grown in large quantities 

 by Messrs Bussell at Cedar Nursery, Ham, showed a great range of colour forms, through 

 every shade of lilac, pale purple and violet to a distinct bluish shade and also white. The 

 shape and form of the flowers was also very varied from small with narrow sharply pointed 

 segments to very large flowers with rounded segments very far removed from the type. 

 Fimbriated flowers were also noticed but no doubling. The leaves were also very diverse 

 in form in some cases being quite coarse. In this species there is no question of any 

 hybridisation having been attempted. 



