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PRIMULA. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



PRIMULA. 



The compost for these tender florists' 

 kinds is one-third of good turfy loam, 

 one-third leaf-mould, and one of well- 

 decayed cow manure, and silver or sharp 

 river sand. Although we have given such 

 full directions in regard to the culture of 

 the florists' varieties, we again earnestly 

 advise all who care for the flower to culti- 

 vate the free and hardy forms that thrive 

 in the open air. It is a good plan to 

 select bright or delicate self or other 

 colours that please one. Such kinds 

 should be increased, so that definite effects 

 may be worked out with each colour. 



HYBRIDS. Primula auricula has 

 been freely crossed with other species, 

 and with excellent results, though 

 many of these hybrids are as yet little 



Primula cashmiriana 



known. One of the best is P. arctotis, 

 a cross with hirsuta, in which, how- 

 ever, the relation to auricula is at once 

 apparent. It is a stout little plant, 

 its compact leaves almost hidden in 

 flowers. It is hardy and easy to grow, 

 and one of the earliest to bloom in 

 spring. P. discolor is a natural cross 

 between auricula and cenensis, and 

 probably one parent of our garden 

 Auriculas ; P. Portce, with the same 

 parentage, differs from discolor in its 

 large wine - red flowers, free of the 

 mealiness of that kind. P. Gcebelii is 

 a natural cross with P. villosa, bearing 

 brownish- violet flowers, and, like all 

 the other auricula hybrids, quite easily 

 grown. A second cross with villosa, 

 known as P. Kerneri, comes nearer 

 that kind in its covering of dark 



hairs ; the pretty flowers are rosy- 

 lilac with a yellow throat. P. Peyrit- 

 schii is a beautiful cross between 

 auricula and viscosa, but it comes so 

 near the latter as often to be called 

 viscosa major. P. venusta, a cross with 

 P. carniolica, is a stout little plant 

 of 3 or 4 inches, forming rosettes of 

 glossy leaves and large purple flowers. 

 P. Balbisii, with large white-throated 

 golden flowers, is an Auricula in all 

 but name, differing only in its more 

 rounded leaves, quite free of powder. 

 A cross between this and auricula has 

 given P. similis, a little plant just 

 intermediate, with bright yellow 

 flowers and slightly mealy foliage. 



B. BEESIANA. A new and vigorous 

 growing species from W. China. The rich 

 velvety purple flowers are produced in 

 whorls on -strong erect scapes 2 to 3 feet 

 high, the flowers appearing from May to 

 July. It is a plant of fine ornament and 

 constitution and withal a good perennial. 

 Revels in deep rich loam and cool and 

 moist places. In conjunction with P. 

 Bulleyana it has given rise to a remarkable 

 race of hybrids equally hardy and vigor- 

 ous as the originals, in which rose, salmon, 

 and many intermediate shades are found. 



P. BULLEYANA. A mountain meadow 

 species from W. China, where it is said to 

 cover vast areas. As an epoch-marking 

 kind it ranks with P. japonica and P. rosea, 

 equalling the former in robust constitu- 

 tion, vigour, and simple cultural needs. 

 It revels in rich soils and moisture, and 

 attains to 2^ feet high when well grown. 

 The flowers are produced in whorls on 

 stout erect scapes. Orange-scarlet in bud, 

 buff-orange and apricot tones are revealed 

 as the flowers expand. Seeds are pro- 

 duced abundantly, and if allowed to fall 

 on the moist ground where the plants 

 have flowered, seedlings will appear by the 

 hundred. Splendid for naturalising on a 

 large scale. Already in conjunction with 

 P. Beesiana it has given rise to a new and 

 glorious hybrid race whose varied beauty 

 and colour richness are beyond praise. 



P. CAPITATA. One of the finest of 

 Primroses, it is very distinct as a garden 

 plant, with a tuft of sharply-toothed pale 

 green leaves and dense heads of flowers of 

 the deepest Tyrian purple. It cannot be 

 termed a good perennial, as it is apt to 

 go off after flowering well, and it is well to 

 raise seedlings. This is easy, as the plant 

 seeds freely in most seasons, and the seed- 

 lings flower in the second year. An open 

 position with a north aspect in good loamy 

 soil free from lime, and well watered 

 in dry weather, suits it best. Himalayas. 



P. COCKBURNIANA. A new species from 

 the mountains of W. China, and in its 

 orange-red flowers quite unlike anything 

 previously seen in this group. It grows in 



