JULY 147 



by enthusiasts about alpine flowers. It is more than 

 thirty years since the whorled Japanese primrose 

 (P. japonica), a giant in the family, was brought to 

 England and offered for sale at 30s. a-piece. Now it 

 sows itself more freely than any other kind in any wet 

 ditch or on moist, shady banks. In such places it 

 grows two feet high, with great leaves of a charming 

 fresh green, and the original crimson has sported 

 into many shades of rose, lilac, and white. Those who 

 have only seen it in a dry, sunny border should go to 

 Wisley and see what a grand thing it becomes in a 

 damp woodland. It has been eclipsed in stature by 

 the recently introduced P. pulverulenta, which is 

 merely a glorified edition of the Japanese primrose, 

 with mealy stems. Another Japanese primrose of easy 

 cultivation is P. Sieboldi, with creeping roots, and 

 flowers of many tints, from deep rose to white, and 

 from lavender to violet. Of nature equally facile, but 

 far more beautiful, is the Himalayan P. denticulata, 

 an early flower, whereof the abundant lilac or violet 

 trusses contrast well with yellow daffodils. P. sikki- 

 mensis, also from the Himalayas, would be more showy 

 if it would not hang its sulphur- coloured bells so per- 

 sistently. Did it display them as boldly as P. japonica, 

 which it rivals in stature, it would indeed be a desirable 

 plant for wet places, for the trusses sometimes consist 

 of fifty or sixty blooms. I prefer the Caucasian 

 P. luteola, which, though not so tall, is very robust, and 

 makes a better show. 



All these primroses require a deep, moist foothold ; 

 protect them from parching, and they will thrive on 



