PRIMULA. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. PRIMULA. 



645 



edged flowers. The " selfs " are really 

 distinct, since the outer portion of the 

 corolla is of the ordinary texture, though 

 a ring of powdery matter surrounds the 

 eye. 



The classification of such slight differ- 

 ences merely tends to throw obstacles in 

 the way of the general growth and enjoy- 

 ment of the flower in gardens. Let the 

 florists enjoy these fine distinctions ; those 

 who merely want to embellish their gardens 

 with the prettier varieties need not trouble 

 themselves with named sorts at all. The 

 florists' kinds are the most delicate and 

 difficult to cultivate. The curious de- 

 velopments of powdery matter, green 

 margins, etc., tend to enfeeble the plant. 

 They are variations that in nature would 

 have little or no chance of surviving in 

 the struggle for life. The general grower 

 will do well to select the free sorts alpines, 

 and good varieties of the common border 

 kinds. The special merit of these is that 

 they may be grown in the open air on the 

 rock garden and in borders, while the 

 florists' kinds must be grown in frames. 



Their culture is very simple, light vege- 

 table soil and plenty of moisture during the 

 growing season being the essentials. In 

 many districts the moisture of our climate 

 suits the Auricula to perfection, and great 

 tufts of it are grown in gardens without 

 any attention. In others it must be pro- 

 tected against excessive drought by stones 

 placed round it, and cocoa-fibre and leaf- 

 mould are also useful as a surfacing. 

 However, as none but good varieties of 

 the alpine section deserve this trouble, we 

 would prefer, wherever practicable, that 

 they should be placed in the rock garden 

 on spots where they would have some 

 shelter and could root freely into rich 

 light soil. They would cause no trouble 

 beyond taking up, dividing, and replant- 

 ing. This should be done every second or 

 third year, or as often as they become too 

 crowded or lanky. The very common 

 kinds may be planted as edgings or in 

 beds in the spring garden, but wherever 

 the plant is free, naturally improved 

 varieties should be substituted for the 

 common old border kinds. There are a 

 few good kinds already in the trade, most 

 of them in shades of yellow, such as 

 Alexandra, Celtic King a very good 

 one Erin's Queen, Miss Davis, and Yel- 

 low Queen also known as Golden Gem. 

 Purple Bedder is crimson-purple ; Chame- 

 leon, with yellow, brown, and striped 

 flowers on the same plant ; and Sulphurea 

 with pale fragrant trusses. 



Auriculas are easily propagated by 

 division in spring or autumn, but best in 

 early autumn. They are also easily raised 

 from seed. Seed ripens in July, and is 

 usually sown in a gentle heat in the follow- 

 ing January. It should be sown thinly 

 in pans. The plants need not be disturbed 

 till they are big enough to prick into fine 



rich light soil on a half-shady border. It 

 is most desirable to raise seedlings, as in 

 this way many beautiful varieties may be 

 obtained, and if a desirable variety is 

 noticed, it should be marked, placed under 

 the best conditions, and propagated by 

 division as fast as possible. 



As to the florists' varieties, the essential 

 points may be summed up thus : They 

 require protection in frames or pits during 

 winter and spring, and may be placed in 

 the open air in summer and early autumn. 

 While inside they should be very near the 

 glass, the lights being left off in mild 

 weather, and air being given at all times 

 day and night, except in severe frosts. 

 The pit or frame may be the usual one 

 for the winter months, but as the plants 

 show flower they ought to be removed to 

 one with a northern exposure, so as to 

 prolong the bloom. In such a place, with 

 abundance of air, they are not without 

 beauty .through April and the first weeks 

 of May. After flowering they should be 

 potted in May, and kept shaded till they 

 have recovered. The potting usually 

 consists of carefully shaking away all the 

 soil and putting the plant in fresh com- 

 post ; and the practice is a good one, for 

 this plant and its wild allies put forth 

 young roots higher up the stem every 

 year, and the encouragement of these 

 young roots is sure to have a good result. 

 The pots generally used (the 4-inch size) 

 are quite large enough for this annual 

 potting, one sucker of a kind being placed 

 in the centre of each pot. The wisdom of 

 potting every plant in this way is doubtful, 

 and it is better to select those that have 

 sound roots and are set firmly and low in 

 the earth, and, while disturbing the ball 

 but little, to give them a careful shift into 

 a 5 -inch pot. In growing the alpine kinds 

 in pots and they are as worthy of it as 

 the other kinds growers should put five 

 or six plants in a 6-inch pot, one in the 

 centre and four or five round the side, so 

 as to form a good group. The same prin- 

 ciple may be carried out in pans, and 

 applied to the free-growing florists' varie- 

 ties as well as the alpines. In summer all 

 the plants should be placed in the open 

 air on boards or slates or a bed of coal- 

 ashes, to prevent the entry of worms. 

 Some careful growers guard the plants 

 from heavy rains, but this is unnecessary 

 if the pots are perfectly drained and every- 

 thing else is as it ought to be. The florists 

 rarely plunge the pots ; but if plunged in 

 a bed of clean sharp sand, or in any like 

 material on a well-drained bottom, and 

 free from earthworm, they will be safer 

 and less troublesome, because free from 

 many risks which attend plants exposed 

 in a fragile porous shell containing but a 

 few inches of soil. Some pot their plants 

 in August, but the best time is just after 

 the flowering, as if disturbed in the autumn 

 the plants have less strength for flowering. 



