COLOUR IN MY GARDEN 



veris), the Oxlip (P. elatior), and the gay red and yellow 

 Polyanthus, which I think is a variety of the last. All 

 these are closely related but there are differences both in 

 treatment and in appearance. The true Primrose is a plant 

 of moist woods — a dry soil is fatal to it — and it requires 

 plenty of good food. "Good loam, leafmould, and old hot- 

 bed manure with a liberal proportion of sand" suits them 

 well if there is also some shade. 



The Oxlip and the Cowslip are very similar; both have 

 the fresh cream-and-butter colour scheme, but the Oxlip 

 has a shorter stem and a broader corolla and is thus a bit 

 more showy. Both belong to sunny pastures of rich, moist 

 soil. They will endure partial shade; indeed such protec- 

 tion is safest for them in our sunny climate. Dryness at 

 the root causes them great suffering. 



"The Polyanthus of unnumbered dyes" is easier pleased 

 and increases and thrives in any position where the soil is 

 deep and rich. These make a charming spring border edge 

 planted among Forget-me-nots. 



A sweep of streamside or pond shore may be made the 

 scene of a most lovely spring picture. On the opposite 

 bank to that upon which we are accustomed to walk we 

 may plant groups of such shrubs as have highly coloured 

 bark: Cornus alba with scarlet stems; C. stolonifera with 

 purplish twigs; and for rich orange C. stolonifera, var. 

 flaviramea, and the beautiful Golden Willow (Salix vitellina 

 aurea). Thickly planted between and beneath may be 

 Primroses and all sorts of white and checkered Fritillaries, 

 Adder's Tongues, Crowfoot Violets, and Poet's Daffodils. 

 If not allowed to be overpowered by coarse-growing meadow 



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