PRIMULA. 



394 



PROPAGATING FRAMES. 



polyanthus, and the primrose. It is not 

 possible to do more here than call the 

 reader's attention to the greenhouse 

 varieties of Primula Sinensis, so useful 

 for winter decorations. These begin to 



PRIMULA SINENSIS OR CHINESE PRIMROSE. 



flower early in November, and, by care, 

 a succession may be kept up until spring is 



frame or greenhouse. One caution is 

 necessary never use peat mould or any 

 soil liable to cake on the surface or turn 

 green, as the loss of the seed is a certain 

 consequence." 



Many of the principal nurserymen in 

 the United Kingdom have turned their 

 attention to the production of new varieties 

 of P. Sinensis, and among these classes 

 James Carter, High Holborn, London, 

 W.C., are noted for their magnifi- 

 cent primulas, known as the "Holborn" 

 Primulas, in all colours white, vermilion, 

 blue, red, carmine, magenta, and pink. 



Propagating Frames, Earthen. 



These are earthen pans, square in shape, 

 and having a slanting top after the manner 



far advanced. For bouquets also they are o f a cucumber frame, 

 almost invaluable. Mr. B. S. Williams, ! to have recourse to a 



The rim is rebated, 

 term used in car- 



to whom the public are so much indebted 

 for the care he has bestowed on these 

 beautiful plants, says, " Taking them all in 

 all, these are the most valuable winter- 

 flowering plants in existence." His direc- 

 tions for sowing and culture are as follows : 

 " Sow in March, April, May, June, and 

 July (with great care, for although so easily 

 raised in the hands of some, it is neverthe- 

 less a great difficulty to others, who, in 

 many instances, too hastily condemn the 

 quality of the seed), in pots filled to within 

 half an inch from the top with sifted leaf j 

 mould, or, what is better, with thoroughly \ 

 rotted manure, which has been exposed to 

 all weathers for a year or two. Leave the 

 surface rather rough, and sprinkle the seed 

 thinly upon it, not covering with soil. Tie 

 a piece of paper over the top of the pot, 

 and leave it in a warm house or hotbed. 

 When the seed becomes dry, water the 

 paper only ; the seed will then germinate^ 

 in two or three weeks. After this remove 

 the paper and place in a shady place, pot- 

 ting off when sufficiently strong into small 

 pots ; place the pots near the glass in a 



pentry that is to say, lowered in a step- 

 like form along the inner edge of both 

 sides and the bottom, so as to afford sup- 

 port for a sheet of glass placed over the 

 interior. They are more handy than seed 

 pans, because the means of covering seeds 

 and cuttings placed within them is far more 

 simple and less costly than the bell-glass 



PROPAGATING FRAME. 



with which the seed pan must be covered 

 if it be necessary to afford protection to 

 any seeds that are being raised or cuttings 



