109 



anthus begins and the primrose leaves off they 

 seem to run into one another through hybridiza- 

 tion. Our native primroses number but few spe- 

 cies. P. farinosa, or bird's-eye primrose, also 

 a native of Europe, is found in several localities. 

 P. Mistassinica, a small, rose-colored species, 

 rarely seen under cultivation, occurs in several 

 Northern and Eastern States. The finest of in- 

 digenous species is P. Parryi, common in Ne- 

 vada, the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, and the 

 Uintahs, at an altitude of six thousand to ten 

 thousand feet. This flowers from July to Sep- 

 tember, bearing fine rose-colored blossoms with 

 yellow eyes, on tall stalks a distinct and hand- 

 some hardy species. One should have a great 

 bank of primroses placed in partial shade, to 

 enjoy their fragrance and color en masse. And 

 they should be raised from seed at least every 

 other year, to keep up a supply of young plants, 

 and to distribute among one's friends. But their 

 most appropriate place is the Alpine garden, 

 where they form dense cushions of bloom, and, 

 with the daffodils, form a garden in themselves. 

 In English poetry the primrose shares an 

 equal place with the violet and daffodil. It is 

 referred to as the "lady of the springe," "win- 

 ter's joyous epitaph," " merry spring-time's har- 

 binger/' " sweet infanta of the year," " the 



