740 PRIMULA. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



PRIMULA. 



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 

 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 



be transferred to beds in the flower 

 garden or the pleasure-ground. The 

 varieties of single coloured Primroses are 

 so numerous, that it seems a folly to 

 name them ; but a few of 'the most 

 distinct of those propagated by division 

 have received names. Among these may 

 be mentioned : Auriculasflora, one of the 

 finest ; Altaica, or grandiflora, also a 

 beautiful sort ; Rosy Morn, deep rosy- 

 red ; Gem of Roses, rosy-pink ; Queen of 

 Violets, deep purplish-violet ; Crimson 

 Banner, deep maroon-crimson ; Violacea, 

 pale purple ; Fairy Queen, pure white 

 with good eye ; Sulphurea, large, sulphur 

 colour ; Virginia, pure white ; Brilliant, 

 rich vermilion-red ; King of Crimsons, 

 rich massive crimson ; Violetta, a very 

 beautiful violet-purple ; Lustrous, very 



An Alpine Primrose. 



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 very 

 bright, it would be desirable, for a few 

 days after planting, to shade the plants 

 by spreading boughs or old garden mats 

 over them, and they should at this time 

 be thoroughly watered. If the plants are 

 strong and regular in their development, 

 they should be planted in lines, 10 or 12 

 in. apart each way, but if the offsets are 

 small they should be closer in the lines. 

 By autumn they will make fine plants, 

 and may then be taken up ; as much of 

 the root as will come up with ordinary 

 care, but not necessarily any soil or ball, 

 being preserved, and the plants should 



deep crimson, with small perfect lemon 

 eye ; and Scott Wilson, a singular bluish- 

 purple. The propagation of these kinds, 

 as well as of all the perennial Primroses, 

 is slow, unless they can be reproduced 

 true from seed. A seedling may produce 

 two others the first year after blooming ; 

 and these may produce six or eight the 

 next year, so that it takes several years to 

 raise a hundred plants, and some patience 

 must therefore be exercised before the 

 newest forms can be circulated largely. 



DOUBLE VARIETIES. The forms most 

 precious for the garden are the beautiful 

 old double kinds. No sweeter or prettier 

 flowers ever warmed into beauty under a 

 northern sun than their richly and deli- 

 cately-tinted little rosettes. Once they 





