214 HARDY PERENNIALS AND 



their roots delight to run, they are perfectly safe. The treat- 

 ment they will not endure is a confined atmosphere. 



P. capUata, which is a native of Sikkim, is still considered to 

 be new in this country, though it was flowered at Kew about 

 thirty years ago, but it has only become general in its distribution 

 during the past three or four years. 



The flowers are borne on stems which are very mealy, and Gin. 

 to 9in. high ; the head of bloom is round and dense, l|in. across. 

 The outer pips are first developed, and as they fade the succeed- 

 ing rings or tiers extend and hide them. The very smallest 

 in the centre of the head remain covered with the farina-like 

 substance, and form a beautiful contrast to the deep violet-blue 

 of the opened, and the lavender-blue of the unopened pips. One 

 head of bloom will last fully four weeks. The denseness and 

 form of the head, combined with the fine colour of the bloom, are 

 the chief points which go to make this Primula very distinct. 

 The leaves, which are arranged in rosette form, are otherwise 

 very pretty, having a mealy covering on the under side, some- 

 times of a golden hue; they are also finely wrinkled and toothed, 

 giving the appearance, in small plants, of a rosette of green 

 feathers. Sometimes the leaves are as large as a full-grown 

 polyanthus leaf, whilst other plants, which have flowered equally 

 well, have not produced foliage larger than that of primroses, 

 when having their earliest flowers. 



It makes a fine pot subject, but will not endure a heated 

 greenhouse. It should be kept in a cold frame, with plenty 

 of air. It may be planted on rockwork where it will not get the 

 midday sun. I hear that it grows like grass with a correspondent 

 whose garden soil is stiff loam; there it seeds and increases 

 rapidly. My first experience with it was troublesome ; when 

 dying down in the winter, the leaves, which are persistent, 

 seemed to collect moisture at the collar and cause it to rot. 

 I tried planting not quite so deeply, and I imagine that it has 

 proved a remedy. So choice a garden subject should not be 

 passed by because it cannot be dibbled in and grown as easily as 

 a cabbage. Old plants produce offsets which, as soon as the 

 April showers come, may be transplanted in loamy soil and 

 a shady situation. Propagation may also be carried on by seed 

 when well ripened, but that has not been my experience of it 

 hitherto. 



Flowering period, April to June. 



Primula Cashmerianum. 



CASHMERE PRIMROSE; Nat. Ord. PRIMULACE^. 



THIS belongs to the large-leaved and herbaceous section, and 

 though it comes (as its name specifies) from a much warmer 

 climate than ours, its habitat was found at a great altitude, and 



