34 



is very useful where a bold effect is required. It is a biennial 

 and should be sown early in March or the seed will often lie 

 dormant until the following autumn. When the seedlings 

 have made the third leaf they should be transplanted and 

 must have plenty of room if the ground is good as they grow 

 quickly into large plants. One foot apart in the rows and two 

 feet between the rows will be necessary. As this plant is 

 tender in severe winters, it should not be moved after the 

 middle of October but left until the end of February. It 

 should not be allowed to ripen its seed in quantity or it will 

 become troublesome. 



'Polyanthuses and 'Primroses. Seeds of these plants 

 come fairly true to colour, especially the yellow and white 

 varieties if care is taken to prevent inoculation when in flower. 

 If seed is sown under glass in February and the plants are 

 gradually hardened off as soon as large enough to transplant 

 to the open border they may be grown into large plants by 

 the following autumn and will flower abundantly in spring. 

 They are liable to suffer from drought in summer and should 

 always be planted on a border facing North where they will 

 escape the hottest rays of the sun ; the rows should be nine 

 inches apart and the plants four inches apart in the rows. 

 During hot weather they will require water occasionally in the 

 evening, but much depends on the situation and the character 

 of the soil ; low, moist localities suit these plants best, and a 

 soil that contains plenty of humus and a fair proportion of sand 

 without being " light." The seed of Wilson's Blue Primrose 

 is a long time in germinating, and like all Primula seeds, should 

 never be allowed to get dry after sowing. 



