PRIMULACE.E. 239 



appear in May and June. It forms a very beautiful object on 

 rockwork, and is not so difficult to manage as some of the An- 

 drosaces. Native of the Alps, Pyrenees, and the Abruzzi. 



Cortusa (Bear's-ear Sanicle) embraces only one species, the 

 C. Matthioli. It is near akin to Prhnula, and in general ap- 

 pearance and habit of growth resembles some of the species of 

 that family. It is found, in company ^^'ith several of the alpine 

 Primulas, inhabiting moist valleys at high elevations on the 

 Alps of Italy and neighbouring countries, and is therefore best 

 adapted for cultivating on rockwork, w^here partial shade and 

 abundant moisture can be given it in the growing season. In 

 warm sheltered situations, where moisture abounds in the atmo- 

 sphere and the soil is naturally or artificially well drained, it 

 may succeed in the open ground ; but there are very few places 

 in this country where these conditions exist in the degree ne- 

 cessary to the wellbeing of this little plant. It will therefore 

 be safer to keep it on rockwork, of wbich it is more character- 

 istic than the open dressed border, and in cold wet localities 

 less or more of it should be kept in pots and wintered in a cold 

 diy frame to provide against loss of stock. Rich loam, or a 

 little peat and loam, with a liberal allowance of sharp sand, 

 forms a congenial compost. Whether in pots or othenvise, it 

 must be remembered that ample drainage should be provided, 

 and copious supplies of water during the time it is making 

 growth. Propagate by seeds and division, the latter immedi- 

 ately after flowering or in early autumn. It is rather a hand- 

 some little plant, with nothing very showy either in the mass 

 or colour of the flowers, but will always be interesting to 

 those who take a delight in the simple beauty of alpine plants. 

 The leaves are nearly round, heart-shaped at the base, very 

 slightly lobed, and sharply toothed. The flower-stems are 

 about 6 or 8 inches high, terminating in a small loose umbel 

 of few small bright red flowers on drooping foot-stalks ; the 

 corolla is slightly bell-shaped, and deeply divided in five seg- 

 ments. Flowers in April, May, and June. 



Cyclamen (Sowbread). — There is perhaps no more attractive 

 group in the whole range of alpine plants than that comprised 

 in this genus. They are all neat and dwarf in habit ; all have 

 foliage of pretty fomi ; and the flowers, in every case beautiful, 

 are in some exquisitely so. They are mostly spring-blooming 

 plants — so early, indeed, that in our fitful climate their beauties 

 are rarely enjoyed out of doors ; but cultivated in pots they are 

 well adapted for the decoration of rooms, the conservatory, or 

 greenhouse ; and for choice cut flowers, the fine colours, pecu- 

 liar and beautiful form, and, in the case of some sorts, the deli- 



