252 Notes and Glcanifigs. 



Primula japonica. — Hail ! Oueen of the Primroses ! for so its introducer 

 designates this lovely flower, which is hardy as a peasant, resplendent as a 

 princess. It is just ten years since Mr. Fortune met with it in Japan, a basket- 

 ful of blooming plants having been brought to his door ; they were of course 

 secured, but the journey home was too much for them, and despite every care, 

 none reached England alive. Ever since that time endeavors have been made 

 to introduce this lovely plant, but till now without success, since the seeds have 

 been found to lose their germinating power in the course of transmission to 

 Europe. At last, however, perseverance has been rewarded, and from seeds 

 sent to Mr. Fortune, plants have been raised in the establishment of Mr. Bull, 

 of Chelsea. Our gardens have thus secured a perfecdy new, thoroughly hardy, 

 and exquisitely lovely primrose, one which is not only valuable for its intrinsic 

 beauty, but doubly valuable as placing in the hands of the hybridizer important 

 new materials, which will no doubt soon be turned to good account. 



It is a vigorous-growing, stemless perennial, with leaves six to eight inches 

 long, and about three inches broad. The scape is from a foot to a foot and a 

 half high, bearing four or five distinct whorls of from ten to fourteen flowers. 

 The flowers are about an inch in diameter, of a lively magenta color, the indi- 

 vidual flowers being very suggestive of a highly-colored Phlox Drummondii. 

 When first exhibited to the Royal Horticultural Society on May 3, it was voted 

 a first-class certificate by acclamation. 



The following distinct forms have already been noted : — 



P. Japonica lilacina. Flowers rather larger than the type, eye surrounded 

 by a zone of orange-red, shading to a beautiful rosy lilac, the outer portion of 

 the corolla lobes being white. This very chaste variety has received a first- 

 class certificate. 



P. japonica alba. Flowers rather below the average size, white, with a gold- 

 en yellow zone around the eye. 



P. japonica carfnittaia. A very distinct form ; flowers pure carmine red, with 

 a maroon-crimson ring around the eye. 



P. japonica splendida. Habit dwarfer, denser, and more stocky than the type ; 

 flower above the average size, deep bright magenta, zone of a rich bright crim- 

 son, surrounding a broad and open eye, which shows the yellow interior of the 

 tube. One of the most brilliant varieties. 



P. japonica rosea. Very distinct, with flowers of a lilac rose having a crimson 

 ring round the eye. 



Plants which have been standing all the winter, fully exposed, in the trying 

 atmosphere of London, are perfectly healthy, and came into bloom about the 

 middle of May, two or three weeks later than plants which had been potted and 

 flowered under glass. Florist and Pomologist. 



