104 ON THE CULTIVATION OF THE CHINESE PRIMROSE. 



I keep my plants, when out of the frame, on a stand, with a 

 top of thin hoarding about two feet wide and of the whole length of 

 the stand, well painted, and made to take off and on at pleasure, 

 secured when on by two small iron screw pins and nuts, by which 

 means I reject or admit rain as required, without the disadvantage 

 of secluding the plants from air, and am always careful in water- 

 ing, not to wet the leaves, but ajrply the water without the rose. 



By adhering closely to the above simple system, W. S. will be 

 amply repaid for his pains, otherwise he will find an insuperable 

 barrier opposed to his success. He must console himself with the 

 assurance that he is not the first Auricula admirer who has com- 

 menced the- pursuit unsuccessfully. 



New North Road, Nov. 10th, 1834. W. J. P. 



ARTICLE V.— On the Cultivation of the Chinese Prim- 

 rose, ( Primula sinensis.) By W. K. 



In March, or early in April, I sow the seed in rich light mould, 

 in flat seed-pans. I prefer raising them in the plant-stove, in a 

 heat of from 60 to 65 deg. Fahrenheit : when they are up, place 

 them where they can have plenty of air ; when they are large 

 enough, pot them off into GO's, in a compost of equal parts of 

 vegetable mould and sandy peat, with a small portion of friable 

 loam, with some turf well chopped, not sifted. The pots should be 

 well drained, that the water may pass off freely, (which is essential 

 to most plants. Keep them shifted, according as they fill the pots 

 with roots ; remove them to a lower temperature, till you inure 

 them to the open air, about the end of May or the beginning of 

 June. They must be kept in a shady situation through the heat 

 of the summer, as they have a great aversion to the sun from June 

 till September. In October, remove them to the greenhouse, and 

 place them in a light airy situation. By the above treatment, you 

 may insure strong health}" plants to bloom from October till April. 

 Great care must be taken in watering them through the winter; 

 that the surface of the mould should be flowed, without wetting 

 the leaves, or the plants will be liable to damp off. 



I find the best time to impregnate them is in February and 

 March, as the pericarpiums will then perfect themselves, which is 

 not certain if performed earlier in the year. I find by impreg- 

 nating the fimbriated white with the large fimbriated pink, I get a 



