PART II.] 



ALPINE FLOWERS FOR GARDENS 



287 



Primula integrifolia (Entire - Leaved 

 Primrose). A most diminutive Primrose, 

 recognized by its smooth, shining leaves, 

 lying quite close to the ground, and in 

 spring, when in bloom, by its handsome 

 rose floAvers, with the lobes deeply divided, 

 one to three flowers being borne on a dwarf 

 stem, but little above the leaves, and these 

 flowers are often large enough to obscure 

 the plant that bears them. It is common 

 on the higher parts of the Pyrenees, and I 

 met with it in abundance in North Italy. 

 Scores of plants sometimes grew together 

 in a sod, like daisies, wherever there was 

 a little bank or slope not covered by 

 grass ; and it was also plentiful in the 

 grass, growing in a sandy loam. There 

 should be no difficulty in growing this 

 plant on flat exposed parts of rocks, the 

 soil moist and free, but firm. The best 

 way would be to try and form a wide 

 tuft of it, by dotting from six to a dozen 



Slants over one spot, and, if in a dry 

 istrict, scattering a little cocoa-fibre 

 mixed with sand between them. This, 

 or stones, will help till the plants become 

 established. It flowers in early summer, 

 and is increased by division and by seeds. 

 P. Candolleana is another name for this, 

 and P. glaucescens is a variety of it. 



P. latifolia (Broad-leaved Primrose}. 

 A handsome and fragrant Primrose, with 

 from two to twenty violet flowers in a 

 head, borne on a stem about twice as 

 long as the leaves. This is less viscid, 

 larger, and more robust than the better 

 known P. viscosa of the Alps, the leaves 

 sometimes attaining a length of 4 inches 

 and a breadth of nearly 2 inches. It grows 

 to a height of from 4 to 8 inches, flowers 

 in early summer, comes from the Pyrenees, 

 the Alps of Dauphiny, and various 

 mountain chains in Southern Europe, 

 and in a pure air will thrive on sunny 

 slopes in sandy peat, with plenty of 

 moisture during the dry season, and 

 perfect drainage in winter. It will bear 

 frequent division ; and may also be well 

 and easily grown in cold frames or pits. 

 P. longiflora (Long -flowered Primrose). 

 Related to our Bird's-Eye Primrose, 

 distinct from it, and larger than those of 

 the best varieties of that species, the 

 lilac tube of the flower being more than 



1 inch long. It is not difficult to 

 cultivate, and the treatment for Primula 

 farinosa will suit it. In colour it is 

 deeper than the Bird's-Eye Primrose. 

 Austria. 



Primula marginata (Margined Prim- 

 rose). Distinguished by the silvery margin 

 on its greyish, smooth leaves, caused by a 

 dense bed of white dust which lies exactly 

 on the edge of the leaf ; and by its sweet, 

 soft, violet-rose flowers, in April and 

 May. I have grown this plant well in 

 the open air in London, and in parts of 

 the country favourable to alpine plants 

 it will prove almost as free as the common 

 Auricula. Even when not in flower, the 

 plant is pretty, from the hue of the 

 margin and surfaces of the leaves. Our 

 wet and green winters are doubtless the 

 cause of this and other kinds becoming 

 lanky in the stems after being more than 

 a year or so in one spot. When the stems 

 become long, and emit roots above the 

 surface, it is a good plan to divide the 

 plants, and insert each portion firmly 

 down to the leaves. This will be all the 

 more beneficial in dry districts, where the 

 little roots that issue from the stems 

 would be more likely to perish. It is a 

 charming plant where it thrives freely. 

 In the open ground a few bits of broken 

 rock, placed around each plant, or among 

 the plants, if they are planted in groups or 

 tufts, will do good by preventing evapora- 

 tion, and also acting as a protection to the 

 plant, which rarely exceeds a few inches 

 in height. A native of the Alps of 

 Dauphiny, and various ranges in the 

 south of Europe, but not of the Pyrenees. 

 Division. 



P. minima (Fairy Primrose). With 

 very small leaves, prostrate, but the 

 flowers make up for the diminutive 

 leaves, being nearly an inch across, and 

 quite covering the minute rosette from 

 which they spring. It is a native of the 

 Alps of Austria, and flowers in early 

 summer, the stem rarely bearing more 

 than one, but occasionally two flowers, 

 rose-coloured, or sometimes white. Bare 

 spots are the best places for it, the 

 soil to be sandy peat and loam ; it 

 is suited for association with the very 

 dwarfest alpine plant. It may be 



