ROCK-GARDEN PRIMULAS 161 



of coarsely toothed leaves. The large flowers, single 

 or in pairs, are of violet -rose colour and are deeply cleft. 

 It occurs in granite soils, and needs abundant moisture 

 at the roots when in growth. It is found on the Alps of 

 Europe, and blooms in April and May. There are 

 numerous cross-bred forms of this, many of great beauty. 



P. Palinuri is a rare early flowering plant from Italy. 

 It has large leaves and yellow flowers on stout stems. 

 It prefers a north aspect wedged between broken stones. 

 Although the plant is hardy, the flowers, which open in 

 March, require the protection of a piece of glass when 

 in bloom. 



P. pedemontana. A very beautiful Primula, with 

 bright crimson flowers in large heads. It forms large 

 rosettes of leaves, which are furnished with brown hairs, 

 and grows freely in half-shady positions planted in rocky 

 crevices or stony ledges. It is native of the Piedmont, 

 and flowers in March and April. 



P. viscosa. Under this name in gardens we fre- 

 quently meet with the commoner P. hirsuta. The true 

 kind comes from the Maritime Alps, where it grows in 

 granitic rocks. The plant makes quite a stem, with 

 rosettes of broad leaves fringed at the edge with hairs. 

 The beautiful pale violet flowers are borne in large heads 

 in April. 



All these, with the other species and their numerous 

 cross-bred forms, may be raised from seed. They should 

 be sown in pots or pans in the early autumn, using a 

 mixture of sandy loam and leaf -soil. The pans are 



