778 PRIMULA. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



It would require pages to describe even 

 the good varieties. At one time the 

 Polyanthus was highly esteemed as a 

 florists' flower, and none in existence 

 better deserved the attention and regard 

 of amateurs ; but nearly all the choice old 

 kinds are now lost, and very few florists 

 really pay any attention to the flower. 

 [n consequence, however, of the great 

 facility with which varieties are raised 

 from seed, nobody need be without 

 handsome kinds, especially as raising 

 them will prove interesting amusement 

 for the amateur. The rules of the florists 

 are in this case of a little more value than 

 usual, and Maddock, in the following 

 passage, describes a very beautiful varia- 



scarcely to be distinguished. In short, 

 the Polyanthus should possess a graceful 

 elegance of form, a richness of colouring, 

 and symmetry of parts not to be found 

 united in any other flower." Here, 

 however, as in most similar cases, the 

 grower will do well to select the most 

 beautiful of his own raising, and not be 

 tied by any conventional rules. 



As to the capabilities of the various 

 kinds of Polyanthus, it would be difficult 

 to name any hardy flower which is so 

 generally useful. The finer varieties are 

 worthy of a place in the rock-garden 

 amidst the choicest alpine plants, while 

 the showier ones are suitable for spring 

 bedding. Numbers of vigorous varieties 



Bunch " Primroses. 



tion of the flower : " The ground colour 

 is most to be admired when shaded with 

 dark rich crimson resembling velvet, with 

 one mark or stripe in the centre of each 

 division of the limb, bold and distinct 

 from the edging down to the eye, where 

 it should terminate in a fine point." He 

 further says : " The pips should be large, 

 quite flat, and as round as may be con- 

 sistent with their peculiarly beautiful 

 figure, which is circular, excepting those 

 small indentures between each division of 

 the limb, which divide it into five or six 

 heart-like segments. The edging should 

 resemble a bright gold lace, bold, clear, 

 and distinct, and so nearly of the 

 same colour as the eye and stripes as 



will form the most appropriate ornaments 

 that can be massed by shady walks in 

 pleasure-grounds, and some may be 

 employed as edgings. Many varieties 

 are worthy of being naturalised abund- 

 antly in pleasure-grounds and along wood 

 walks, though the enthusiastic florist 

 grows the finer ones in pots. Poly- 

 anthuses are scarcely to be recommended 

 for using in masses in the spring garden 

 as much as the finer varieties of the 

 Primrose, since in order to be admired 

 they require to be seen rather closely ; 

 but wherever flowers are placed for 

 their beauty rather than their effect 

 as colour, Polyanthuses are invaluable, 

 and they should be seen in strong 



