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‘PIMPERN 
HERE are few flowers whose 
coming is so eagerly looked for 
in the spring as those of the 
Primrose (Primula vulgaris), 
though to speak of it as a 
spring flower somewhat. belies 
both its popular and scientific 
names. Primrose and Primula both come from the 
Latin primus, first, in allusion to its early appear- 
ance; yet, if we look up the “ Floras,” we shall find 
their authors agreed in setting down the flowering- 
time as April and May. In the South it appears 
with the Snowdrop and the Daisy, and therefore may 
be reckoned as one of the first flowers of the year, 
but until the warm showers of spring come the 
flowers have not their full beauty or size, and lack 
the setting of the tender crinkled leaves. The Prim- 
rose is one of the plants that arrange for their spring 
display in the previous summer by laying up great 
store of material in the thick, fleshy rootstock ; and 
218 
