OLD-FASHIONED GARDEN FLOWERS. 223 



are the roots and crown of this plant, that if a root were dug up 

 in mid-winter, and the soil partly shaken from it, a two-year-old 

 specimen would be found to be the size and shape of a cricket 

 ball, and the position of the crown so difficult to find that, 

 on planting the root again, considerable discrimination would 

 have to be exercised, or the crown might be pointed the 

 wrong way. 



P. Sikkimensis is a Cowslip. The flowers are a pale primrose 

 yellow, rendered more pale still by a mealiness which covers 

 the whole stem, being most abundant near the top, but whether 

 it is produced on the petals, or, owing to their bell-shape and 

 pendent form they recieve it from the scape and pedicels by the 

 action of the wind, I cannot say. The flowers are considerably 

 over lin. long ; they are numerously produced on long drooping 

 pedicels, of irregular lengths ; the tallest scape of the specimen 

 illustrated is 18in. high, but under more favourable conditions 

 this Cowslip has been said to reach a height of 3ft. The leaves 

 are Gin. to 12in. long, wrinkled, unevenly dentate, oblong and 

 blunt ; during the time of seeding the leaves increase in length, 

 some becoming spathulate, or broadly stalked ; it ripens seed 

 plentifully, from which seedlings come true. 



Although. I have never grown this noble plant otherwise than 

 in ordinary garden loam well enriched and in shady borders, it 

 is said to be more at home in peaty soil always in a moist 

 state. However that may be, I have proved it to do well under 

 ordinary treatment; it should be well watered during hot dry 

 weather ; amongst dwarf trees, in the more damp parts of rock- 

 work, or at the foot of a north wall covered with any kind of 

 foliage, it will be grown and seen to advantage. 



Besides by seed, which should be sown as soon as ripened, it 

 may be propagated by root divisions at the time the crowns are 

 pushing in spring. 



Flowering period, June and July. 



Primula Vulgaris Flore-pleno. 



DOUBLE-FLOWERED PRIMROSE; Nat. Ord. PRIMULACE^. 

 IT is not intended to descant upon, or even attempt to name, 

 the many forms of Double Primrose; the object is more to 

 direct the attention of the reader to one which is a truly 

 valuable flower and ought to be in every garden. Let me at 

 once state its chief points. Colour, yellow; flowers, large, full, 

 clear, and sweetly scented, produced regularly twice a year; 

 foliage, short, rigid, evergreen, handsome, and supporting the 

 flowers from earth splashes, Having grown this variety for five 

 years, I have proved it to be as stated during both mild and 

 severe seasons. It seems as if it wanted to commence its 

 blooming period about October, from which time to the severest 



