PRIMULA. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



775 



many crosses with P. auricula has given 

 P. Peyritschii, perhaps better known as 

 P. viscosa major, a showy little plant 

 with large crimson-purple flowers. P. 

 commutata comes near P. viscosa, but its 

 flowers are bright clear rose, and carried 

 on longer stems. There are many other 

 wild and garden forms more or less 

 nearly related to it. 



P. vulgaris (Common Primrose). Of 

 all the Primula family, none excel our 

 native Primroses in loveliness, and they 

 are the earliest of all to flower. The 

 Gentians and dwarf Primulas do no more 

 for the Alps than these charming wild 

 flowers do for our hedgerows, banks, 

 groves, open woods, and the borders of 

 our fields and streams. In some places 

 the Common Primrose varies a good deal 



are readily increased by division of the 

 offsets, or by seeds, which are produced 

 in abundance. In woods and shrubberies 

 the plants will take care of themselves, a 

 quality which adds to their charms, but 

 in the flower garden some system of 

 culture must be pursued. The following 

 very simple one will secure the best 

 results, both as to the production of 

 vigorous free-blooming plants and an 

 abundant stock. In autumn, after the 

 summer occupants of the flower-beds are 

 faded and removed, the Primroses and 

 other spring flowers are planted in beds 

 as the taste of the grower may direct. 

 About the middle or the end of May it 

 will be time to think of preparing the 

 beds for their summer ornaments, and 

 by that time also the Primroses will have 



An Alpine Primrose. 



in colour. Some of the prettiest of the 

 wild varieties are worthy of being in- 

 troduced into shrubberies and semi-wild 

 places ; and so long as lovely colour and 

 fragrance are esteemed in the spring 

 flower garden, some of the more distinctly 

 toned varieties should be sought after. 

 Varied hues of yellow, red, rose, lilac, 

 bluish-violet, lilac-rose, and white have 

 already been raised, and if the good 

 single varieties become popular, striking 

 and desirable variations from the 

 commoner types will be much more 

 likely to be preserved. For shrubberies 

 and woodland walks single varieties will 

 always prove more useful than the old 

 double kinds, because more vigorous and 

 more easily increased. All the varieties 



begun to fade after yielding a long and 

 abundant bloom. Then take them up, 

 divide the offsets singly, doing this, if 

 the day be sunny, in a shed or in a shady 

 position. New or scarce varieties, or 

 varieties of which a large stock is required, 

 may be divided into the smallest offsets, 

 but where much increase is not desired, the 

 plants should be simply parted sufficiently 

 to allow of their healthy development. 

 As soon as they are parted, plant them 

 in the kitchen-garden or in some by-place. 

 The more rich and moist the soil the 

 better they will grow, especially if the 

 position be a half-shady one. The alleys 

 between Asparagus beds would do admir- 

 ably if more convenient positions can- 

 not be found. If the weather be veiy 



