228 GLENNYS HANDBOOK 



Primula Sinensis. — The Chinese Primrose, sonietiraes 

 called P. pranitens, is one of the most useful of plants for 

 greenhouse decoration in winter and spring, and is admirably 

 adapted for culture as a window plant. It forms a very im- 

 portant feature in the greenhouse at a period of the year when 

 there is little else in Hovver, and is so much improved since 

 its introduction that the flower may be seen twice or three 

 times the size it used to be, with colours more brilliant, the 

 form circular, and in every way improved. This is entirely 

 owing to the ordinary mode of improving races by raising 

 plants from seed. To raise these properly sow the seed in 

 June, towards the latter part, in wide-mouthed pots, for it is 

 better to have a good body of mould under seeds than the 

 reduced qi:iantity contained in seed-pans. For a compost use 

 two-thirds turfy loam and one-third sand. The soil should 

 be tolerably dry, and made moderately firm, the surface being 

 even with the top edge of the pot. Sow the seeds very thinly, 

 but evenly, and press the surface down with the palm of the 

 hand, and then sift some soil veiy finely all over it, but not 

 to cover more than the thickness of a shilling. Put the pot 

 in the stove, or a pinery or vinery, or warm frame, or, in 

 default of these, in a greenhouse or ordinary frame. Water 

 by splashing with the hand from the hairs of a wetted brush, 

 holding the hairs upwards, and drawing the hand along the 

 hairs, which will throw the water off in such small particles 

 that it will not disturb the seed. When the seedhngs are 

 up give air and water as occasion requires, and when they 

 have formed rough leaves prick them out an inch apart all 

 over a, seed-pan, or as many pans as will hold them. Here 

 they may grow a month, or until they touch each other ; then 

 pot them off singly in three-inch pots, with a soil composed 

 of turfy loam, decomposed cowdung, turfy peat, and sand, and 

 put a layer of crocks to reach one- third of the height of the 

 pot. They may be well watered to settle the earth about 

 their roots. Place them in the greenhouse close to the 

 light, and let them have as much air as possible in mild 

 weather. Here they are to stand just long enough to allow 

 the best to be selected for further trouble. The best thus 

 selected are to be marked, and to have the blooms picked off; 

 and when they fill their pots with roots remove them to eight- 



