PART II.] 



ALPINE FLOWERS FOR GARDENS 



285 



have a tendency to enfeeble the constitu- 

 tion of the plant. They are, in fact, 

 variations that, occurring in Nature, would 

 have little or no chance of surviving in 

 the struggle for life. The grower will 

 do well to select the free sorts good 

 varieties of the border kinds. 



Their culture is simple : light vegetable 

 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 in 

 such may be seen great tufts of it grown 

 without attention. In others, it must be 

 protected against excessive drought by 

 putting stones round the plants, and 

 cocoa-fibre and leaf-mould are also useful 

 as a surfacing. In a plant so much 

 degraded by florists from its natural 

 form and colour as this Primrose, it is well 

 to return to the natural colour and some 

 very fine yellow-flowered kinds have been 

 raised by Mr Moon and others, more 

 beautiful than the florists' kinds. 



Auriculas are easily propagated by 

 division in spring or autumn best in 

 early autumn. They are also easily 

 raised from seed, which ripens in July, 

 the common practice being to sow it in 

 the following January in a gentle heat. 

 It should be sown in pans thinly. The 

 plants need not be disturbed till they are 

 big enough to prick into a bed of fine rich 

 and light soil, on a half -shady border in 

 the open air. It is a most desirable 

 practice to raise seedlings, as in this way 

 we may obtain many beautiful varieties. 

 When a good variety is noticed among the 

 seedlings, it should be marked and placed 

 under conditions best calculated to ensure 

 its rapid increase, and propagated by 

 division. 



Primula capitata. One of the finest 

 of Primroses, in autumn bearing dense 

 heads of flowers of the deepest purple, 

 which as regards depth is variable, and is 

 shown to advantage by the white mealy 

 powder in which the flowers are enveloped. 

 It is not so vigorous as P. denticulata, 

 though Jiardy, and it cannot be termed 

 a good perennial, as it is apt to go off 

 after flowering well. It is therefore 

 advisable to raise seedlings. This is easy, 

 as the plant seeds freely in most seasons, 



and the seedlings flower in the second 

 year. An open position with a north 

 aspect in good loamy soil well watered in 

 dry weather suits it best. India. 



Primula carniolica is a native of 

 Northern Italy and the Tyrol, the flowers, 

 bluish-purple or lilac, with a white centre. 

 The leaves are oblong, about 2J:. inches 

 long, very smooth, and arranged in a 

 rosette. A variety, multiceps, has larger 

 flowers. The position of P. carniolica 

 should be a half -shady one, and it should 

 be planted sideways on sloping or per- 

 pendicular rocks. 



P. cortusoides (Gortusa-like Primrose). 

 This is entirely distinct in appearance 

 from any of the species commonly grown, 

 the leaves being large and soft, not nest- 

 ling firmly on the ground like many 

 of the European species, but on stalks 

 2 to 4 inches in length ; the deep rosy 

 clusters of flowers on stalks from 6 to 10 

 inches high. In consequence of its taller 

 and freer habit, the plant is liable to be 

 disfigured if placed in an exposed spot, 

 therefore it should have shelter in a sunny 

 nook, surrounded by low shrubs, or in any 

 position where it will not be exposed to 

 cutting winds. The soil should be light 

 and rich, with a surfacing of cocoa-fibre or 

 leaf-mould. It is one of the most beauti- 

 ful and easily-raised Primroses, readily 

 increased from seed. Siberia. 



P. denticulata (Denticulated Primrose). 

 A Himalayan Primrose, with neat dense 

 umbels of many small lilac flowers, on 

 stalks from 8 inches to a foot high, 

 springing from leaves, hairy on both 

 sides, and densely so beneath. It is 

 often grown in pots, but is hardy in deep 

 light loam with a dry bottom, selecting a 

 spot sheltered on the coldest sides. Division 

 or by seeds. Although hardy, the leaves 

 are injured by the first sharp frosts, so 

 that it is well to keep it in well-drained 

 warm positions. It is a variable plant, 

 and some of its more distinct forms have 

 received garden names, of which the 

 principal are mentioned below. It is 

 paler in colour than any of its varieties, 

 and its foliage and flower-stalks are not 

 mealy. P. pulcherrima is a great improve- 

 ment on the species. It grows from 10 

 to 12 inches high, and has a more globular 



