ON PRIMROSES AND THEIR FERTILIZATION. 85 



VI. ON PRIMROSES AND THEIR 

 FERTILIZATION. 



Read b efore the Folkestone Natural History Society, 

 March 3rd, 1870. 



" A Primrose by the river's brim, 

 A yellow primrose was to him, 



'Twas that and nothing more." 



I have chosen this quotation simply because it is 

 not all suitable for the object we have in hand, nor 

 to be taken as a motto by the members of a Natural 

 History Society. Yet it is doubtless known to you 

 all, and may serve as a " shocking example " of the 

 state into which some people fall, who neglect to use 

 their senses. Much more than simple " yellow prim- 

 roses " are these blossoms to us. I might enlarge 

 upon them as the flowers of childhood, round which 

 cluster many " sunny memories " of our early days, 

 that might otherwise have been forgotten ; as remin- 

 ders of the happy careless hours when earth was ever 

 unfolding new treasures and filling our minds with 

 delight at its luxuriousness of beauty. 



And again I might dwell upon them as above all 

 others the flowers of spring, bright and happy 

 messengers, coming with clear blue skies in January 

 and February to tell us of the wealth of form and 

 colour that will shortly dazzle our eyes as the bleak 

 days get fewer, and at last disappear. But this 

 would be too sentimental ; we must look deeper into 



