PART II.] 



ALPINE FLOWERS FOR GARDENS 



of which we have some knowledge in 

 cultivation, or have seen on the 

 mountains of Europe. In the vast 

 mountain ranges of India and Asia, 

 probahly the number of species is not 

 even known yet. 



As to aspect on the rock-garden, 

 Mr W. A. Clarke, in "Alpine Plants," 

 says : 



"P. calycina should have a north-east 

 aspect, well-drained position, rough loam 

 and limestone, two parts each. P. Clusiana, 

 south-west aspect ; peat, loam, and sand 

 two parts loam, one peat, one sand. P. 

 frondosa, south aspect ; good strong loam, 

 with a little sand. P. glutinosa, shady 

 place or north aspect ; peat, loam, and 

 sand ; P. involucrata, north aspect. 



" P. minima will do in a sunny place if 

 it can be well watered in summer. In a 

 partially shaded place it grows well, but 

 does not flower so prettily. 



" P. nivalis. A partially shaded place in 

 deep, peaty loam suits this species well. 

 P. sikkimensis. Plant on the north side 

 of a bog in good loam and leaf -mould." 



To some extent, the question of 

 aspect depends on where we are north, 

 south, or west. The many forms of the 

 Auricula are varieties of one alpine 

 Primula, and have the same needs as 

 to moisture and aspect. In some 

 districts the natural conditions of open 

 ground suit them admirably ; in other 

 southern and dry districts we cannot 

 grow them unless on cool shady borders, 

 if at all. 



Frequently, in addition to their high 

 and cool alpine home-conditions, the 

 Primroses grow wedged in between 

 rocks without apparent nourishment, 

 but the roots deep in the chinks where 

 such moisture as exists can alter them 

 very little. I remember in the 

 Maritime Alps an enormous tuft of 

 Primula Allioni in the seams of a 

 great bare cliff, hundreds of feet 

 above our heads; and, therefore, in 

 our rock-gardens it is well to use 



pieces of grit or stone to protect the 

 plants, and do a double good in keeping 

 the moisture in the ground and also 

 other and coarser plants away from 

 these often very small alpine Prim- 

 roses. We may frequently wedge 

 them in between lumps of grit or 

 sandstone. The marsh-loving kinds 

 will not want this attention. The 

 many natural hybrids, tender, or 

 doubtful species, are left out of the 

 following selection of the Primroses 

 in cultivation, or observed in a wild 

 state in Europe. 



Primula Allioni (A llionis Primrose). A 

 bright richly coloured kind, blooming in, 

 March or April, the flowers about an inch 

 in diameter, of a fine rosy purple colour, 

 with white centre, and borne on very 

 short stems. This charming Primrose is, 

 unfortunately, not one of the easiest 

 to cultivate as though loving moisture 

 at the roots, it is susceptible to much 

 moisture on the leaves, especially during 

 the winter. For this reason, it succeeds 

 best when planted sideways between 

 stones, i.e. with its roots in an almost 

 horizontal position, so that water can 

 drain off from the leaves. A form 

 of P. Allioni is found in the Tyrol, 

 and is known to botanists as P. iirolensis, 

 but the difference between the two forms 

 is slight. 



P. calycina. From the Alps of 

 Lombardy ; is a dwarf Primrose of easy 

 culture in the rock-garden. It has 

 umbels of from three to five rosy-purple 

 flowers springing from a short stalk in 

 May or June. It thrives in a heavy 

 soil and shaded from the sun. 



P. amsena. Allied to our wild Primrose, 

 but distinct purple flowers coming out 

 before the snow has left. In leaf it is 

 not unlike P. denticulata, and the fact 

 that it possesses the vigour of that plant, 

 and also has much larger flowers, makes 

 it welcome. It is so much earlier than 

 the common Primrose that, while that 

 species is in flower, amcena has 

 finished blooming, and sent up almost 

 the same kind of strong tuft of leaves 

 which the common Primrose does after 



