212 HARDY PERENNIALS AND 



clash hard -with the name as applied to the Cowslip species, I 

 may at once state that Linnaeus has only that one name for the 

 three species, viz : P. acaulis, P. elatior, P. veris ; the name 

 P. vulgaris, by another authority, is explained by the same rule ; 

 Curtis (Flora Londinensis) is the authority for the name P. 

 acaulis. 



I need not here go into any of the varieties, beyond giving a 

 cursory glance at them as a whole. The double kinds are all 

 beautiful, some superb and rare, as the ruby and crimson ; the 

 white, sulphur, mauve, magenta, and other less distinct double 

 forms are more easily grown, and in some parts are very plen- 

 tiful. The single kinds have even a more extensive range in 

 colour. We have now fine reds and what are called blue prim- 

 rose; the latter variety is not a blue, but certainly a near 

 appoach to it. It is an interesting occupation to raise the 

 coloured primroses from seed, not only because of the pleasing 

 kinds which may be so obtained, but under cultivation, as in a 

 wild state, seedlings are always seen to be the more vigorous 

 plants ; self-sown seed springs up freely on short grass, sandy 

 walks, and in half -shaded borders ; but when it is sought to im- 

 prove the strain, not only should seedlings be regularly raised, 

 but it should be done systematically, when it will be necessary, 

 during the blooming season, to look over the flowers daily and 

 remove inferior kinds as soon as proved, so that neither their 

 seed nor pollen can escape and be disseminated. This part of the 

 operation alone will, in a few years, where strictly carried out, 

 cause a garden to become famous for its primroses. Seasonable 

 sowing, protection from slugs, and liberal treatment are also of 

 the utmost importance. 



Briefly stated, the modus operandi should be as follows : Sow 

 the seed at the natural season, soon as ripe, on moist vegetable 

 soil ; do not cover it with more than a mere dash of sand ; the 

 aspect should be north, but with a little shade any other will do ; 

 the seedlings will be pretty strong by the time of the early 

 frosts ; about that time they should, on dry days, have three or 

 four slight dressings of soot and quicklime ; it should be dusted 

 over them with a " dredge " or sieve ; this may be expected to 

 clear them of the slug pest, after which a dressing of sand and 

 half -rotten leaves may be scattered over them ; this will not only 

 keep them fresh and plump during winter, but also protect them 

 from the effects of wet succeeded by frost, which often lifts such 

 things entirely out of the earth. In March, plant out in well 

 enriched loam, in shady quarters; many will flower in late spring. 

 Another plan would be to leave them in the seed bed if not too 

 rank, where most would flower; in either case, the seed bed might 

 be left furnished with undisturbed seedlings. The main crop of 

 bloom should not be looked for until the second spring after the 

 summer sowing. 



