10 



The Weekly Florists^ Review. 



January 25, 1012. 



not want to wait as late as that for 

 your Christmas plants. Start them go- 

 ing now and you are all right. 



Primula Kewensis. 



The beautiful, fragrant, bright yel- 

 low Primula Kewensis has jumped into 

 popular favor the last year or two and 

 this is not to be wondered at, for as a 

 winter flowering plant it is among the 

 finest acquisitions we have had in late 

 years. The erect flower spikes rise 

 twelve to eighteen inches in height and 

 are' produced in great profusion for 

 several months. This is a more robust 

 grower than either Sinensis or ob- 



and its outdoor culture might well be 

 considerably extended. Seed sown now 

 in a temperature of 50 degrees at night 

 will germinate, if fresh, in a few weeks 

 and can, when large enough, be pricked 

 off into flats, which can be hardened 

 off so that the seedlings can be planted 

 out early in May, before really hot 

 weather sets in. This primula prefers 

 a little shade, but this is not necessary, 

 for we have for years grown splendid 

 plants in the sunniest location we have. 

 These seedlings should be well culti- 

 vated all summer and not lifted until 

 they, have a few freezings. They can 

 then be potted Or benched. For a suc- 



Store of George H. Cooper, Denver, G>lo. 



conica, and to be seen at its best re- 

 quires somewhat larger pots. It also 

 should have an abundant water supply 

 at all times, but especially when in 

 flower. If at this stage it becomes dry, 

 all the tubelike flowers will wither. 

 Some there are who have frowned on 

 it for this reason, but keep it moist 

 and it is one of our finest decorative 

 plants. To keep it in good condition 

 the plants, however, must be looked 

 over two or three times weekly and 

 fading flowers removed. Its treatment 

 does not differ from that of the other 

 greenhouse primulas. 



Primula Malacoides. 



The comparatively new Primula 

 malacoides is being offered this season 

 by several American seedsmen. It may 

 be described as a much glorified and 

 improved P. Forbesi. It is more robust 

 and graceful than the old baby prim- 

 rose. It has been shown in Chicago, 

 Philadelphia and Boston quite recently 

 and was admired at each place. Here 

 is a good florists' plant just as easy 

 to grow as P. obconica, not in any way 

 poisonous, with dainty blue-pink 

 flowers, which are produce'd in great 

 profusion, and as it naturally flowers 

 earlier than P. obconica it should be 

 given a fair trial as a Christmas plant. 

 It succeeds under precisely the same 

 treatment as the other primroses. 



Primula Vulgaris. 



The common English primrose is 

 popular as a winter flowering plant, 

 both in pots and grown in benches for 

 bunching. This variety is hardy with 

 light protection even in North America, 



ceeding year the forced plants can be 

 divided and planted out as in the case 

 of seedlings. In addition to the yellow 

 form, which is the most popular, there 

 are several other colors. There are also 

 the various forms of P. elatior, better 

 known as Polyantha, which are splen- 

 did for cutting. Of these the Giant 

 White, Giant Yellow and Gold-laced are 

 specially desirable. P. elatior wants 

 just the same treatment as P. vulgaris 



and will be found a desirable plant to 

 use in benches in a cold house for 

 winter flowering. Primulas all enjoy 

 a rather light but moderately rich 

 compost, the hardy sorts being no ex- 

 ception to this rule in America, al- 

 though they in some cases resent it in 

 Europe. 



EUBOPEAN NOTES. 



The spring show of the National Hor- 

 ticultural Society of France will be held 

 in Paris May 15 to 22, inclusive. 



F. Sander, of Sander & Sons, St. Al- 

 lans and Bruges, has been seriously 

 ill, but has now rocovereil from an 

 operation which his medical advisers 

 considered necessary. He is now assured 

 by the doctors of renewed health and 

 vigor, and his many friends offer their 

 congratulations. 



The International Horticultural Ex- 

 hibition, London, is the absorbing topic 

 of 1912. Four thousand pounds sterling 

 are offered in prizes, as well as numer- 

 ous cups and trophies. Exhibits are ex- 

 pected from France, Italy, Germany, 

 Holland and Belgium. A commission 

 lias been given by an American gentle- 

 man for a remarkable piece of garden 

 statuary,, on the express condition that 

 it be shown at the exhibition. Interest- 

 ing exhibits are promised from Japan 

 and Canada, and Australia will also be 

 represented. 



The Netherlands Chamber of Com- 

 merce is organizing a novel exhibition, 

 to be held in the Olympic grounds, Lon- 

 don, England, and to consist of Dutch 

 houses and market gardens and a bulb 

 field with over 50,000 bulbs in bloom. 

 The grounds will be intersected by 

 canals, spanned by typical Dutch 

 bridges. Litae trees, trained fan-shape, 

 as seen at the roadsides in Holland, be- 

 sides willows, shrubs, etc., will be trans- 

 ported from the land of windmills for 

 the occasioii. 



The National Federation of French 

 Horticulturists is holding its annual 

 convention, from January 22 until the 

 end of the month. In addition to at- 

 tending their business meetings, the 

 members, will tour in the south of 

 France, visiting many of the leading 

 horticultural establishments in Mar- 

 seilles, Ollioules, Hyeres, Antibes, 



New Delivery C»x Used by John C. Gracey, Pliiladelphia. 



