78 President's Address. 



Ijlant from the Botanic Garden, which Mr Lindsay was kind enough 

 to send me, unfortunately did not live over the "winter ; and Mr 

 Lindsay told me that none of his plants were thriving. This is 

 a plant, however, worthy of further trial. 



The Indian PrimuJce of the section of denticulata are well 

 worthy of cultivation, being free growers. They, however, unfor- 

 tunately bloom so early in the spring that the flowers are 

 generally spoilt with the frost. P. cashmeriana, not so early to 

 flower as denticulata, alba, and purpurea, may be left with less 

 risk outside. P. rosea is perhaps the finest introduction that we 

 have had among the Prinndacem for a long time ; the colour of the 

 flower is of the richest rose, and the plant itself perfectly hardy ; 

 it is a free grower and free flowerer. 



P. Monroi, a plant of a perfectly different type, has spoon- 

 shaped leaves and flower stems about a foot high, with a bunch of 

 beautiful white flowers ; it dies quite down in winter, but never fails 

 to come again in spring, as it is very hardy, and will grow anywhere 

 in light soil; it is a free flowerer, and should be in every garden. 

 Primula Balhisiana, a species from the Dolomite country, is 

 nearly allied to the common P. auricida ; it has yellow flowers, but 

 the leaves are covered with glandular hairs, and it is as easily 

 grown as the P. auricula. P. integrifolia is the type of a large 

 section, with smooth strap-shaped leaves, of easy growth, and very 

 hardy. P. cahjcina, glaucescens, Wulfeniana, hirsufa, and Candol- 

 liana, all belong to this section, and are, as a rule, free flowerers. 

 P. latifolia and P. Dinyana, belonging to a different class, having 

 long, thick, and strong root stems inclined to rise out of the ground 

 as in the common Auricula, are difficult plants to grow well, but 

 do better when planted between flat stones sunk below the ground. 

 P. Candolliana of Nursery Catalogues is not the true plant, but is, I 

 think, only a variety of Dinyana. P. Candolliana, common in 

 the Engadine, is a free grower and flowerer; whereas the plant 

 sold for it in this country is a shy growing and flowering plant, 

 like P. latifolia and Dinyana. 



Primtda carniolica is a fine species from the Tyrol, which, 

 along with its variety raulticeps, form vigorous, free flowering 

 plants when grown in rich light soil ; they die quite down to the 

 ground in winter. I have seen this species growing strong in an 

 ordinary border well enriched. Another interesting section, 

 with round-headed red glandular hairs (like those of a Drosera) on 

 the leaves, includes P. Daconensis and p>i^dviontana ; the former 

 grows and flowers well with me, the latter keeps alive, but 

 never makes any progress. Primula marginata is another interest- 

 ing free growing and ornamental jjlant. Numerous varieties of 



