236 PRIMULACE.^. 



species the leaves are much cut and lobed, and more rigid than 

 the last, and the lobes each terminate in stout white spines. 

 The flowers are in the same manner and colour as the last 

 species. A native of warm parts of the south of Europe. The 

 species spinosus and longifolius are intermediate in different 

 degrees between the two described, and are from similar local- 

 ities. 



PRIMULACE^. 



This is one of the best known and most cherished of those 

 orders that contain hardy subjects. Some of the species, espe- 

 cially of Primula^ are most familiar plants, and are mingled 

 with the earliest and most sunny impressions of our childhood. 

 The Cowslip and Primrose are amongst the earliest of spring 

 flowers, and are welcomed by old and young everywhere ; but 

 perhaps to the young they are most welcome, after the dreary 

 flowerless blank of winter. There are many alpine plants com- 

 prised in the order, which cannot be cultivated in the majority 

 of localities without the advantage of rockwork, or the protec- 

 tion of frames in winter, — being either impatient of the winter 

 humidity of our climate, or their flowers appear too early in our 

 variable springs to be enjoyable. But there are also many 

 beautiful plants, early flowering too, which are adapted to wea- 

 ther our worst spring blasts, or showers, or frosts, and which 

 flower boldly and well under most discouraging circumstances. 

 The culture of most of the genera, though in some points the 

 same, will be best left for consideration under each subject as it 

 comes up in the progress of selection ; and all that it is neces- 

 sary to add here is, that if the mode of propagation, when that 

 operation is necessary, should be by seed, it should be sown at 

 once when ripe. The seed of nearly all the Pri7?iidace(B is 

 slow to germinate, especially if kept in dry store for some 

 months after it is ripe. The end in view will be attained, there- 

 fore, in shorter time if the seed is committed to the soil as 

 soon as it is gathered. 



Androsace. — This is one of the prettiest of the genera of 

 PrimulacecB, and a most interesting group of alpine plants. 

 Several of the species are annual, others are biennial, but the 

 greater number are perennial, and all are rather difficult to 

 keep under ordinary conditions near the sea-level. They are 

 all strictly alpine plants, and are hardy enough to resist suc- 

 cessfully the severest temperature we are liable to in this 



