336 Iberbaceous 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 rnany-flowered umbels of rosy-purple flow- 

 el's with yellow eyes, borne on slender scapes about six 

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

 Northern Europe and makes quite 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 -shady 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 hardy. 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 floriferous. Prob- 



