250 PRIMULACE^. 



erect, are slightly shaggy with long soft hairs ; the umbels are 

 compact and rather large, and the flowers deep rose. It is a 

 very showy species, and best adapted for ihe rockwork ; rarely 

 very satisfactory in the open border, except in the most favour- 

 able situations — not but that it is perfectly hardy as regards 

 capability of resisting cold, only it requires a freer drainage at 

 all times than generally can be secured at the ordinary ground- 

 level. In summer, however, it will take astonishing supplies 

 of water, while making growth, if the drainage is good. Sandy 

 rich loam suits it best. Flowers throughout May, June, and July. 

 P. denticulata {Small-toothed P.) is a species of considerable 

 interest and beauty. It is rather vigorous in habit, with large, 

 oblong, lanceolate, toothed leaves, hairy on both sides, but 

 densely so beneath, especially on the veins. The stoutish 

 flower-stalks rise to the height of 9 inches or i foot in luxuri- 

 ant individuals, and terminate in compact umbels of many 

 small bright lilac flowers. It is a very hardy and accommodat- 

 ing species ; for though usually classed among Alpines, it suc- 

 ceeds very well in the open border in most places where light 

 rich loam and a dry bottom exist ; but it is undoubtedly most 

 at home on wxll-drained rockwork, where it can be liberally 

 supplied with water during the growing season. Good rich 

 loam, a little peat, and abundance of gritty sand, form the most 

 fitting compost for it on rockwork, or in pots if it should be 

 cultivated in them, as it occasionally is, for the decoration of 

 the greenhouse and conservatory in spring. It bears a little 

 forcing, and may be had in bloom a month or six weeks earlier 

 than the natural flowering period by being placed in gentle 

 heat in January and February. The flowers appear in April, 

 May, and June. Native of the Himalaya. 



P. denticulata, var. nana. — Under this name Messrs Back- 

 house of York recently introduced from the Himalaya a sort of 

 Primula that must be considered a decided improvement on the 

 older P. denticulata, if it is not indeed entitled to be regarded 

 as a distinct species. The leaves are similar in form and 

 texture to those of P. denticulata, the flower-stalks are stouter, 

 and the dense umbels of bluish-purple flowers are nearly twice 

 as broad, and the flowers are conspicuously marked with a 

 yellow eye. It is a vigorous, hardy plant, and forms a striking 

 object on rockwork or in pots. The same soil and treatment 

 as for P. denticidata. 



In P. elatior {Oxlip) the common flower-stalk is generally 

 shorter and stouter than that of the Cowslip, but is variable in 

 length and strength ; always, however, showing the umbel 

 above the foliage, and the corolla is broader and flatter than 



