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PRIMULA. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



PRIMULA. 



P. FORRESTII. A remarkable species 

 from the Alps of Yunnan in China. The 

 rich golden-yellow flowers are produced in 

 drooping clusters, and, in common with the 

 foliage, possess the fragrance of ripe fruit. 

 Though of high ornament, it is unfortun- 

 ately not hardy in the open in England. 



P. FRONDOSA. A plant of the Balkans, 

 and related to the common Bird's-eye 

 (P. farinosa), but with larger leaves of a 

 different shape, and larger rosy-purple 

 flowers during May and June. The plant 

 is thickly covered in all its parts with a 

 fine white powder. 



Q ' Primula farinosa (Bird's-eye Primrose). 



P. GLUTINOSA. A distinct little Prim- 

 rose, rare in gardens. On mountains near 

 Gastein and Salzburg, in the Tyrol, and 

 in Lower Austria, it flourishes, in peaty 

 soil, at a height of 7,000 to 8,000 feet. It 

 is 3 to 5 inches high, bearing one to five 

 blossoms of a peculiar purplish-mauve, 

 with divisions rather deeply cleft. Suit- 

 able for the rock garden, or for pots in 

 moist peat or very sandy soil. It should 

 be grown in clusters, being almost certain 

 to die out if isolated. Similar to P. gluti- 

 nosa are P. tirolensis, Floerkiana, Allioni, 

 and others, all natives of the Alps. 



P. GRANDIS. A distinct species from 

 the Caucasus, remarkable only for its large 

 foliage and the smallness of its flowers. 



P. INTEGRIFOLIA. A diminutive Prim- 

 rose, easily recognised by its smooth 



shining leaves, which lie quite close to the 

 ground, and by its handsome rose flowers, 

 which are borne one to three on a dwarf 

 stem, and are often large enough to 

 obscure the plant. There is no difficulty 

 in growing this plant on flat exposed parts 

 of the rock garden, if the soil be firm, but 

 moist and free. The best way is to form 

 a wide tuft, by dotting six to twelve plants 

 over one spot, and in a dry district scatter 

 between them a few stones or a little 

 cocoa-fibre mixed with sand, so as to 

 prevent evaporation. P. Candolleana is 

 another name for this plant. P. glau- 

 cesens, spectabilis, Clusiana, and Wulfeni- 

 ana, all natives of the Alps, are of a similar 

 character. Division or seed. P. Heerii 

 is a wild cross between this kind and P. 

 hirsuta found in Switzerland ; it makes 

 neat low tufts bearing loose clusters of 

 purple flowers. 



P. INTERMEDIA. A charming hybrid 

 between P. ciliata and P. auricula. In 

 habit it closely resembles some of the 

 dwarf alpine Auriculas, and its purplish- 

 crimson flowers have a conspicuous yellow 

 eye, and are borne on stout erect scapes. 

 On sheltered portions of the rock garden 

 its richly-tinted blossoms are seen to 

 advantage. It is delicately fragrant. 



P. JAPONICA. A handsome Primrose 

 whose true home is in moist shady spots 

 or wet ditches, where in rich loam it grows 

 vigorously, throwing up flower-stems 2 feet 

 or more, and unfolding tier after tier of its 

 crimson blossoms for several weeks in 

 succession. It may be grown in the rock 

 garden, and is an excellent water-side 

 plant, thriving almost anywhere and sow- 

 ing itself freely. Given congenial con- 

 ditions self-sown seedlings appear in their 

 hundreds beside woodland walks or like 

 places, where uniform coolness or moisture 

 is not unknown, and the fact should drive 

 home the lesson to every gardener who 

 wishes to succeed with one of the best and 

 most amiable species of the genus. Cod- 

 dling the seeds in pans in frames is a mis- 

 take. Sow them when ripe in the cool 

 moist places in which the species delights, 

 and for once let Nature be the teacher. 



P. JULI.E. A dwarf early-flowering, 

 deciduous, amiably-disposed species of 

 carpeting habit. The rosy - crimson 

 flowers issue from the rhizomes a dozen 

 or so in sessile clusters, presently rising 

 amid the roundish ovate leaves on solitary 

 stems, like the common Primrose, which 

 they approximate to in form and size. 

 Less than 6 inches high, it is a most 

 charming plant, and flowers with great 

 freedom. Rich light loam, leaf-soil, and 

 manure in cool spots. Easily increased 

 by division. Caucasus. 



P. KEWENSIS. A hybrid of the Himala- 

 yan P. floribunda and the Abyssinian P. 

 verticillata. A delightful plant of amiable 

 disposition producing fragrant yellow 



