THE PRIMROSE FAMILY. 455 



in 1876. M. Lecoq is of opinion that the Auricula, which he 

 describes as the most beautiful of the genus Primula, has been 

 derived from the intercrossing of several European species with 

 seminal varieties of the Alpine Primula P. Auricula. Among 

 those species most likely to have been used in the production of 

 this now lovely florist flower, he cites P. marginata, P. viscosa, 

 perhaps P. villosa, P. hirsuta, and P. integrifolia. I fully en- 

 dorse M. Lecoq's opinion : and no one who has seen the above- 

 named species growing in the same frame with Auriculas would 

 doubt that they were intimately related; and this is espe- 

 cially manifest in the case of P. marginata, which evidently 

 lends its mealy-margined serrate foliage, sub-shrubby habit of 

 growth, and sub-erect flowers, to many of our finest Auriculas of 

 to-day. Gaertner observes that the two sections represented by 

 P. vulgar is and P. Auricula cannot be made to intermix, as, 

 from their different habit, substance, and structure, might be 

 supposed to be the case. Both sections exhibit the pin-eyed 

 (long style and short stamens) and thrum-eyed (short style 

 and long stamens) structure so ably alluded to by Darwin in 

 a paper contributed to the * Linnaean Society ' (x. 393 and 

 437) ; and cultivators who wish to raise seedlings should bear 

 in mind the fact, that the interbreeding of a pin-eyed and 

 thrum-eyed variety gives the largest proportion of fertile seeds. 



P. viscosa var. intermedia is a garden hybrid between P. 

 Auricula and P. viscosa. The parentage of the Auricula is 

 readily distinguished by the larger and smoother leaves, and 

 the deep purple colour, with a well-defined white eye. Several 

 other hybrids from the same source are now in cultivation, 

 varying in colour, and notably distinguished from the Auricula 

 by the denser character of the plant. 



The seeds of Primula sinensis (see ' Bot. Mag.,' t. 2564) may 

 be sown in succession from February to June, so as to have a 

 longer supply of flowering plants. Sow the seeds on the sur- 

 face of a well-drained pan of light leaf-mould and sand. Do 

 not cover it with soil, but place a pane of glass painted green 

 over it, and set it in a case or stove, and if possible on a genial 

 bottom-heat of 55 to 65. The seed germinates in two or 

 three weeks, after which the glass should be removed, and the 

 'pan placed in a warm position near the glass, but shaded from 

 bright sunshine. The seeds of all the rare Indian or Chinese 

 species may be raised in the same way, and gradually harden . 

 them off after germination has taken place, and the young 

 plants have acquired some strength. Hardy Primula or Poly- 

 anthus seeds may either be sown as soon as ripe, in pans or 

 boxes of light sandy soil, and placed in a cold pit or frame, or 



