33& Herbaceous plants. 



The Oxlip (P. elatior) resembles the cowslip in habit, 

 the flowers are, however, larger and of many different colors, 

 from yellow and white to deep crimson. It is a very desir- 

 able border plant with tufted leaves, and numerous showy 

 flowers in spring. Will grow in sunny positions in any mod- 

 erately good garden soil. It is essentially a plant for small 

 gardens. Also cultivated under the name of polyanthus. 



Bird's-eye Primrose (P.farinosa). — A pretty little plant 

 of woodland meadows and grassy fields, with small spade- 

 like leaves and many-flowered umbels of rosy-purple flow- 

 ers with yellow eyes, borne on slender scapes about six 

 inches high. It covers acres of ground in many places in 

 Northern Europe and makes cpiite a feature of the scenery 

 about midsummer. For moist places in rockeries or among 

 low grass in lawns or shrubberies. 



Auricula (.P. Auricula). — A beautiful alpine plant of a 

 dwarf and compact habit, much used for summer bedding 

 in half-shad y positions. It is also a very desirable plant for 

 a rockery. Flowers pale yellow, darker around the centre, 

 fragrant. There are many garden varieties with white, 

 yellow, rose-colored or lilac flowers. Leaves generally 

 powdered, grayish, obovate. The scape is only a few inches 

 high bearing a many-flowered umbel. Should be wintered 

 in a cool frame where it is not fully hard v. Rich and 

 moist loam. Of the numerous other species of Primula, few- 

 have been tried in American gardens and some are probably 

 tender. All deserve cultivation ; many are exceedingly 

 beautiful rock-plants. 



Fairy Primrose, Androsace. — A genus of very dwarf 

 and tufted primrose-like plants, mostly alpine. Exceed- 

 ingly pretty, of delicate colors and very fioriferous. Prob- 



