ROCK-GARDEN PRIMULAS 155 



Europe there are some thirty additional species. These 

 figures show a great increase since the time of Linnaeus 

 in 1753, when only six species of Primula were known. 



The headquarters of the Primulas is evidently on the 

 great mountain ranges of Asia, particularly on the 

 Himalayas and the spurs ending in China. From this 

 country in the past few years many new and remarkable 

 kinds have been introduced to our gardens, and there is 

 promise of many more to come. With very few excep- 

 tions all these various Primulas are hardy in this country, 

 and although the conditions under which they are found 

 in their native habitats must be of a widely divergent 

 nature, it is possible to grow successfully, under practically 

 the same conditions, plants found wild in China, Japan, 

 the Himalayas, Switzerland, and North America. 



Botanically the Primulas have been divided into 

 a great many sections according to their affinity, but 

 for garden purposes they may be generally classified in 

 two, or at the most three, great groups. There is the 

 group of rock-loving kinds represented by Primula 

 Auricula, the members of which are found on the European 

 Alps, and generally need to be grown in rocky crevices 

 or stony soil in the rock garden. The majority of these, 

 however, will also flourish in the open border in many 

 gardens. Next comes the group of moisture-loving or 

 bog plants, represented by Primula rosea and Primula 

 japonica among numerous others. Some of the stateliest 

 Primulas are included in this group, which is of great 

 horticultural value. Last, but not least from a decorative 



