io8 



ton-hole whenever they were procurable. Hardy 

 and floriferous, it is the richest of early spring 

 flowers : from the palette of tints of the polyan- 

 thus, through the varied hues of the cowslip and 

 common primrose to the "edged" and " pow- 

 dery " Auriculas t the large, purple clusters of 

 the Siberian cortusotdes, and the fiery, opening 

 eye of the Himalayan P. rosea. The Himalayan 

 P. denticulata is a fine species, with bright 

 mauve flowers on tall stalks. P. Sikktmensts is 

 probably the most distinct of the Himalayan 

 kinds, with lemon-colored and deliciously-scent- 

 ed trusses borne on lofty scapes. This must be 

 raised from seed in pans or boxes ; then, if 

 planted out in shade in early autumn, the plants 

 flower moderately well the following June. The 

 second June they flower still finer, but after that 

 they die, or deteriorate, and have to be replaced 

 by fresh seedlings. It is one of the latest of its 

 family to bloom. Nearly all the many varieties 

 of the Japanese P. Sieboldi are charming, being 

 perfectly hardy, unusually free-flowering, and 

 remarkable for the size of trusses and flowers. 

 A strain of English primrose, called Dean's 

 high-colored hybrids, has produced some most 

 tender and fascinating colors. 



In many instances of primroses raised from 

 seed, it is puzzling to know just where the poly- 



