312 Notes and Gleanings. 



to which we now more particularly direct attention are of quite recent introduc- 

 tion, and are as yet comparatively little known. 



The typical plant, Pri7?iiila corttisoidcs, forms a tuft consisting of heart- 

 shaped, bluntly-toothed leaves, of a bright green color, agreeably adorned with 

 compact umbels of purphsh rose-colored flowers, in the months of May and 

 June. It is always a neat plant ; when in flower it is extremely pretty, and 

 should one meet with the rare sight of a few very large clumps of it, the gran- 

 deur of the plant will not be soon forgotten. 



If planted in the common border and left to take care of itself, this plant is 

 likely enough to die ; and yet, in some places, to plant it anywhere and leave 

 it alone would be the most satisfactory mode of cultivating it. We have for 

 many years enjoyed its abundant flowering on a ledge of a rockery facing the 

 north : the soil deep and gritty, and thoroughly well drained. From April to 

 August the tufts — indeed the whole of this part of the rockery — are heavily 

 watered once a week. This system suits a large proportion of the best Alpines 

 in cultivation. The north aspect is peculiarly well adapted for its requirements ; 

 for, as a native of Siberia, exposure to the full sun would debilitate the constitu- 

 tion of the plant : in fact, the main difficulty about growing Arctic and Alpine 

 plants is, that our climate is too warm for them, and they perish through growing 

 too fast. 



The variety here figured represents a group of plants of more robust habits 

 than the type, and producing flowers far more showy, both in size and color. It 

 is the finest of the series introduced, and a native of Japan, obtained for our gar- 

 dens by JVIessrs. Veitch & Son, in the year 1864. From the same firm there have 

 been sent out several other varieties, all of which, in their leading cht^racteris- 

 tics, cluster around P. c.amoena, so that we must regard that variety, and not the 

 species, as the proper type of them. They are all fine plants, thoroughly hardy, 

 yet but rarely prospering in the common open border. The best of all places 

 for them is the frames ; they are, indeed, the finest frame plants we possess, for 

 neglect will rarely kill them, and proper care will bring them to a condition of 

 extraordinary beauty. To grow them well the soil should be a rich sandy loam, 

 the pots well drained, the plants at all times preserved from any approach to 

 drought, and during summer to have abundance of water. The whole stock 

 should be repotted annually, no matter how well the plants are doing ; the 

 proper time for this oiDeration is the month of July, when they are comparatively 

 at rest. The following list includes all the varieties known : — 



Atncena. — A robust-habited plant, flowering freely. Flowers, rich rosy car- 

 mine ; one of the finest of the group. 



Interfnedia. — This is well named for those who know the specific form. 

 The flowers are most abundantly produced, the color lilac carmine. A very 

 desirable plant. 



Alba. — A fine plant, with large, handsome, pure white flowers, which droop 

 as if blown aside by the wind. The brilliant green of its leaves and the snowy 

 purity of its flowers constitute this a striking plant, notwithstanding the droop- 

 ing of its flowers. 



Striata viridis. — A pretty starry flower, white with obscure green stripes. A 



