80 Presidents Address. 



lias sported into various colours, from white, slate, blue, and purple 

 to crimson. It is quite hardy, and flowers generally well outside ; 

 it is much used for forcing in spring, and by that means can be 

 had in flower in the greenhouse shortly after the New Year. It 

 should be grown near the glass, as the flower stems have a tendency 

 to get drawn up ; if not so placed, grown outside the flower stems 

 rarely exceed nine inches in height ; it varies much from seed, some 

 having large flowers with smooth edges, others again being much 

 fringed. This plant has ninning underground stems, and has no 

 connection with P. cortusoides, which is a fibrous-rooting plant, and 

 does not spread like P. coHusnides avuena. 



P. Parriji, one of the finest species avb have, does not thrive well 

 with many people. I have, however, succeeded in growing it strong 

 this summer in leaf mould and sand ; and when thus raised it pro- 

 duces freely dark purple flowers from a dozen upwards on the top 

 of flower stem. I also succeeded in saving a small supply of seed 

 which I sent to a friend. 



P. viscosa is the most common species in the Alps, about 4000 

 feet, and has many varieties ; some are viscous, and others 

 smooth on the leaves. I gathered a beautiful large-flowered variety 

 on the RiffJeberg a few years ago with a large white eye. P. 

 glutinosa, confined to the Tyrol, is not nearly such a free grow- 

 ing variety as viscosa; it has narrow strap-shaped leaves, and is a shy 

 flowerer. P, ciliata is very pretty ; and a number of fine hybrids 

 between it and intermedia have been raised at the Botanic Garden 

 by Mr Lindsay — two in particular, a bright rose-coloured flower 

 named Balfouri, and a rich purple named Lindsayi. One of the 

 finest, however, is ciliata purpnrata ; it is bright rosy purple, 

 and should always find a place in every rock garden. P. nmdma 

 is not as a rule a free grower, but I saw a plant this summer in a 

 friend's garden in Berwickshire which was fully six inches across, 

 and in luxuriant health; it was planted against a big stone sunk 

 deep into the soil. 



The Primidacece take up little room, and can be grown by any- 

 one, however smaU the garden. They are tenacious of life, and 

 are not easily killed by a little neglect in watering. Springing out 

 of the ground by forming lengthened root stems, they should be 

 transplanted, and if necessary divided, every spring, and replanted 

 deeper than before, as the best and most vigorous roots start 

 immediately from the neck of the plant. All those growing 

 naturally in crevices of rock should be carefully planted between 

 pieces of flat stone, with rich light soil between and below to a 

 considerable depth, as it is surprising to what a length the roots 

 extend in search of food. I have seen plants with only o small rosettu 



