H9 



The Canadian Horticulturist. 



PRIMULA OBCONICA, OR JAPANESE PRIMROSE. 



HE great value of this plant is too little known, it is undoubtedly the 

 nearest to a perpetual bloomer of anything that has yet been 

 introduced. A plant or small clump in a five or six inch pot will con- 

 tinue to bloom, under fair treatment, for at least ten months of the 

 year. This Primrose is absolutely free from insect pests and disease, 

 _^ it prefers a moderate temperature and some sun, but, will bear as low 

 a temperature as the ordinary geranium without injury, the roots must be kept 

 moist without wetting the leaves. 



After commencing to flower it will continue to throw up stem after stem, 

 each bearing a dozen flowers, delicately 

 shaded from white to lavender, standing 

 shear above the foliage. The flowers are 

 useful alike for personal decoration, or as 

 a table plant. 



The plants are easily grown from 

 seed or can be purchased at a small cost. 

 In June the clumps can be divided, re- 

 potted and kept in some shady corner 

 and occasionally watered till wanted in 

 Autumn. The leaves are said to irritate 

 the skins of some persons, but I have 

 never experienced any bad eff'ects al- 

 though subject to plant poisoning. The 

 above cut is taken from " Book of 

 Canadian Plants," Webster Bros., Ham- 

 ilton. 



Gravcnhurst, Muskoka. 



Fig. 652. — Primula Obconica. 



J. P. COCKBURN. 



The Black Barbarossa. 



{^See Question No. 624.) 



Hon. G. W. Campbell, of Ohio, the celebrated grape grower of the State, 

 writes : I think Black Barbarossa was introduced into England some fifty 

 years ago, and was said to be as large as Black Hamburgh ; but it does not 

 seem to have attained popularity, and I see no mention of it for a long time. I 

 see it mentioned in a French work, as a rare beauty, but inferior to the Chas" 

 selas. I do not think it would have any value for out of door culture above 

 the Hamburg. 



