PRIMULACE.^. 247 



yellow, in rather dense racemes, and appear in June, July, and 

 August. Useful for the same purposes as the preceding. 



L. vulgaris {Common Z.), like the last-named species, is a 

 native of Britain, and Europe generally, appearing also in many 

 parts of Asia and in Australia. It rises erect to the height of 

 2 or 3 feet, Anth branching stems terminating in loose leafy 

 panicles of yellow flowers, which appear in July, August, and 

 September. It is not at all a choice-looking plant, but it is 

 valuable for introducing into moist open woods, and for plant- 

 ing on the banks of ponds and streams where the natural vege- 

 tation stands in need of improvement, and for lighting up 

 masses of shrubs. It succeeds in any common soil, but de- 

 lights most in partially-shaded moist places. 



Primula. — This is a very beautiful and interesting gi-oup of 

 hardy border and rock plants, which in bygone years was much 

 admired and extensively cultivated in this country, but latterly 

 it has been entirely neglected, at least in the gardens of the 

 rich. It is rather astonishing that it should be so. Primulas 

 are so fragrant, so beautiful in colouring, and so neat in habit ; 

 and the majority of the species, flowering as they do in spring 

 and early summer, present a character so desirable, that one 

 would think lovers of flowers, whether professional or amateur, 

 could not easily forget or forego them. There are signs, however, 

 of the old love being taken up again. Some beautiful varieties of 

 the Cowslip and Primrose are found very useful in the spring 

 flower-garden, for which they are very fit ; and the catalogues 

 of florists and seedsmen are swelling with new species and 

 varieties in addition to many old and well-known sorts. The 

 majority of Primulas are very accommodating in cultivation, 

 adapting themselves to many kinds of soils and situations, but 

 are most at home in sandy loams, deep and moist, but well 

 drained and in moderately shady positions. They are easily 

 propagated by seeds, — remembering always that it often requires 

 the exercise of patience and following directions already laid 

 down, — cuttings, and division, the last being the simplest and 

 easiest process where large increase is not an object. In lay- 

 ing in first stock, seed is the best and cheapest way in the case 

 of the varieties of the Auricula, Primrose, and Polyanthus, un- 

 less fine named sorts are wanted, when they must of course be 

 purchased in plants, and by name, the same as with other 

 florists' flowers ; and the finer and more rare species must be 

 got in the same way, because seeds of those are not always 

 procurable true in this countr}-. For a couple of months or 

 more after germinating, the plants do not require much room, 

 and are liable to be destroyed by slugs and other pests whilst 



