330 The PolyantJms. 



THE POLYANTHUS. 



An old, well-known, but much-neglected flower ; yet one which little 

 merits such neglect, and which we prize as one of the best spring-flower- 

 ing plants. Botanically, the polyanthus is a variety of the oxlip {Primuia 

 e/atior, var. Polyaiithd) ; whence, as will readily be seen, its common name. 

 It is nearly related to the true cowslip {Primula vcris) and to the primrose 

 {Primiilci vulgaris), and crosses readily with them ; and thence are derived 

 many of the showy varieties seen in gardens. 



For a florist's flower, the colors should always be yellow and brown, 

 clear, and the margins of color well defined. 



In this country, however, little attention is paid to florists' flowers ; and 

 in the present article we desire to call attention to the primroses only as 

 spring-blooming plants. The very name, which is derived from the Latin 

 primus, " the first," suggests it as one of the first flowers of spring ; as in 

 the garden it is one of the first to push the fresh green leaves through the 

 last year's dead foliage, and early throws up its stalk of showy blossoms. 



While there is no plant of easier cultivation, yet, in our uncertain climate, 

 it is safer to grow the finer varieties in a cold frame, or rather to place the 

 frame over the bed in winter. Strange as it may seem, our v.-inters often 

 kill plants which survive in Canada. The reason is, however, very simple. 

 Most plants are not killed by cold, but by alternation of heat and cold, by 

 constant freezing and thawing. In more northern latitudes, the snow which 

 frills in December remains unmelted upon the ground until April, and 

 serves as a warm covering, protecting the plants from the severity of the 

 cold, and, melting in spring, leaves the plant in good condition for its sum- 

 mer growth. But where the snow is melted off many times in the course 

 of the winter, and the plant, root and leaves, exposed to chilling rains, nip- 

 ping winds, and to the winter's sun, alternately frozen and thawed, it is in 

 bad condition in the spring, if not killed outright. Therefore the careful 

 florist will always have cold frames at hand with which he can cover beds 

 of choice herbaceous plants, or into which he can transplant in autumn, 

 again in spring removing the plants to the garden. We do not intend to 

 say that the polyanthus will not stand the winter without such protection : 



