733 



PRIMULA. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



tried in various positions and soils, as it 

 has not yet been thoroughly tested. 



P. Sieboldi. Though this handsome 

 Primrose is considered a variety of P. 

 cortusoides, it is very distinct in many 

 important particulars. The size of its 

 flowers, the breadth of its foliage, the 

 creeping character of its root, its exclu- 

 sively vernal habit, its pseudo-lobed or 



marginata, fimbriata oculata, vinciuflora, 

 cceiTilea-alba, Mauve Beauty, Lavender 

 Queen, laciniata, and maxima. These 

 possess a great diversity of colour, and 

 some have the petals beautifully fringed. 

 One of the chief merits of these Primulas 

 is that they bloom early, flowering about 

 the month of April when other flowering 

 plants are rare ; and another is, that they 



Primula 



grooved seed-vessel, and the roundish 

 flattened form of its seed, all warrant the 

 belief in its distinctness from P. cortusoides 

 as a garden plant. It is at any rate one 

 of the showiest and most charming of all 

 the Primulas, and is as easy to gro\y and 

 as hardy as many others. Since its intro- 

 duction from Japan numerous beautifi 

 varieties have been raised, some of the 

 most distinct being clarkiaeflora, lilacma- 



Sieboldi. 



are remarkably free bloomers, throwing 

 up successive flower-stems, and lasting a 

 long time in perfection. Their cultivation 

 also is comparatively easy. The best 

 soil for them is light, rich, free material, 

 consisting of fibry loam, leaf-mould, pul- 

 verised manure, and some grit to keep 

 it open. They are impatient of excessive 

 moisture, and when put in open ground 

 should be planted in well-drained soil, or 



