NEW AND BEAUTIFUL ROCK PLANTS 1 1 1 



be pressed into service without hesitation ; but there 

 are many exquisite species, equally beautiful with 

 the cross-bred forms, that have prior claim owing to 

 their greater rarity. With few exceptions the Primulas 

 are distinguished by profuse blooming, neat habit, 

 hardiness, and brilliant colours. The majority are easy 

 to grow, given certain simple conditions, and they in- 

 crease readily. Ease of culture, however, would not in 

 itself present an appeal to large numbers of flower- 

 lovers, who only develop a really absorbing interest in 

 plants which are difficult to manage, unless the others 

 have exceptional beauty to recommend them. This the 

 Primulas have. In making a survey of the genus it 

 may be well to give a reminder first of what may be 

 termed the standard species, more especially as they 

 have in some cases beautiful modern varieties, hardly 

 less important than the new species. For example, 

 the charming lavender-coloured species viscosa has a 

 wide circle of admirers, and these can hardly fail to 

 feel a lively interest in that splendid variety Mrs. J. H. 

 Wilson, which is greatly superior to the type ; each 

 crown carries a truss of large mauve flowers with a 

 clear white eye. Cortusoides has given the magenta- 

 coloured form amoena, and the still more beautiful 

 President Simon, with lavender flowers. 



Of rosea we have the large form grandiflora, rosy 

 carmine with yellow eye, an exquisite plant, as free- 

 flowering, given a cool, moist spot, as the ; parent. 

 Apropos of rosea, its love of moisture and coolness 

 cannot be emphasized too strongly. Young plants 

 put out from pots in spring in a sunny spot may ap- 

 parently establish themselves and bloom happily, yet 

 die off in the summer ; they flower from old crowns, 

 but are unable to make new ones for the following 



