PRIMULA 



either open-air rockery or frame, tlie charming P. 

 marginata. Curt., of the Maritime Alps." It is u com 

 pact plant with oblong or oval deeply dentate white 

 margined Ivs. and purplish fls. B.M. 191. L.B.C. 3:2T0, 

 For horticultural accounts of Primulas, see Journ, 

 Royal Hort. Soc. 1886, 1891 and 1895; Himalayan Prim 

 roses, Gn. 16, pp. 5:i4-535 ( W. Munro) ; Indian Primroses 

 Gn. 41, pp. 580-582; Hardy Primulas, Gn. 50, pp. ;!72-37fa 

 (F. W. Meyer) ; Primroses and their allies, G. C. III. 27, 

 p. 325, et seq. (R. Lindsay). For Mexican Primrose, see 

 <Enothera. L. H. B. 



The genus Primula contains many charming and 

 beautiful species ; they not only brighten our gardens in 

 spring and summer, but all through the winter we 

 can enjoy the blossoms of many showy species in oiir 

 greenhouses. There are many species that can not be 



PRIMULA 



1429 



volvetl in olisourity, although some think it is a cross 

 betwi-.n ihc- vriiiir.. SB and the cowslip. It is a favorite 

 giinl'Tt pl.iiii ;tii(l 'ii'serves to be so. Its flowers have 

 chnniiin-ly riili .-..Icirs. They are most generally used 

 as s].rniL; i.i-.ldiiii,' [.liiuts. When used in this way they 

 oujrlii III III- iil:uitfil in beds where they are partially 

 shaded during the hottest part of the day and a liberal 

 supply of water given to them, as they are very im- 

 patient of drought. When they are through blossom- 

 ing they may be removed from the beds, to make room 

 for summer bedding plants, to some moist shady place 

 where they can remain until fall. They are then 

 divided and planted in coldframes for the winter. 

 In spring they are transplanted from there to the beds 

 again. In sheltered parts of the rock garden they can 

 be grown successfully. They take kindly to pot culture, 

 and many of them are grown in this way to decorate 



1951. Primula Sine 



less, with some care a large number of choice species can 

 be grown. There are some which grow luxuriantly out 

 of doors; others can be grown in coldframes with a 

 northern aspect ; and a large number are some of our 

 showiest greenhouse plants for winter decoration. 



The species of Primula are generally raised from 

 seed, but varieties which do not come true from seed 

 are increased either by division or cuttings. The seeds 

 of hardy Primroses should be sown soon after they are 

 collected, as their vitality is impaired if they get too dry. 



The I 



of i 

 light 

 of dry 1 



garde 



opea 



for: 



HlgariSt'with i 

 ,is Milniirably in a moist, deep, 

 ;li;iiii-, and a slight protection 

 i:iy ill winter. It is easily raised 

 in is important, if some of the 

 II be obtained. The cowslip, 

 ;lip, P. elatior, grow under the 

 above. The polyanthus has 

 nany years, yet its origin is in- 



conservatories in spring. Of late years the Primrose 

 and polyanthus have been forced in spring by florists 

 for cut-flowers, those with fine yellow blossoms being 

 most in demand. The polyanthus can be raised from 

 seed, but some of the fine varieties are best propagated 

 by division. 



The common auricula, P. Auricula, is best grown in 

 pots in a cool greenhouse or in coldframes. In a pro- 

 tected corner under the shade of some hemlocks at the 

 Harvard Botanic Garden, there has been a good clump 

 of this plant growing and blossoming annually for the 

 past ten years. See Auricula, vol. I. 



P. auricula-ta, a pretty little Asia Minor species, can 

 be grown in a warm sheltered position. P. cortusoides 

 blossoms very early in spring, and requires slight pro- 

 tection and a warm position. There are manv varieties 



of this plant. P. fnri -i i« n t...:„ififnl native plant 



requiring a stiff loam ; ■ .\^.:.,]. -Miintii.n wiili sIkkIb 



during the warmest | i :i. ■'::•■._ />. ,h„n>-i,hita 



comes from the Hini;il >_ • M ■ . ; i -unl i~ ipiiir iKinly 

 in the rock garden, i;r".\ii m -.< hm.i-i, .li-i-i.. rivh. Inaniy 



