70 FAMILIAR GARDES FLOWERS. 



stalked common primroses. But how comes all this colour 

 into the polyanthus, if it is but a primrose, seeing that a 

 true i^rimrose is always of a pale yellow colour '1 But, then, 

 a true primrose is not necessarily of a pale yellow colour, 

 for we have them of all colours, from pure white to deep 

 yellow, and from jja-le rose and lavender to crimson and 

 purple-blue. On one occasion I sat down in the piark at 

 Bicton to gossip with my old friend the late ^Ir. James 

 Barnes, and the knoll of wild herbage we selected for our 

 symp)Osium was dotted with primroses of at least a dozen 

 colours, some being brown or slaty, but others lively rose, 

 full purple, red, and the most delicate lilac. Therefore, as 

 to the growth and the colouring, it will not be difficult 

 for the observant gardener to believe that the primrose and 

 the polyanthus are but forms of the same species, owning 

 a common origin in the type named by Linn.tus Vrlmnhi 

 verts. 



There are two distinct classes of polyanthuses. The 

 bedding and border kinds have flowers characterised by gay 

 colours ; the florists'" or exliibition polyanthuses have dark 

 maroon or black grounds, and a rich gold lacing. On the 

 roundness, smoothness, velvety texture, and sharjjness of 

 the lacing depends the relative merit of the show varieties, 

 which are valued highly by the few florists who understand 

 and appreciate them. 



The polyanthus requires a rich loamy soil. It will 

 thrive on clay if well managed; moisture is conducive to 

 the health and free flowering of the plant, and it bears shade 

 well, but if heavily shaded, and in a damp situation, becomes 

 coarse, and the flowers are comparatively few and wanting 

 in colour. The only way to multiply named varieties is 

 by division, wliich is best accomplished in the month of 



