ISO PLANT CULTURE 



and the first flowers kept picked the plants may be made to 

 bloom nicely in the Spring; still later sowings in September will give 

 plants for Easter and after. It requires an abundance of water and 

 cool conditions, 55 degrees, and in this respect differs from P. sinensis. 

 P. malacoides is excellent for cut flowers, for table decorations, bridal 

 bouquets and corsages, as well as a good pot plant. 



P. florihunda with small yellow flowers has a very floriferous 

 form named P. f. Isabellina; the flowers are creamy white. This 

 species is more compact and smaller than P. kewensis. 



P. kewensis, possibly a hybrid between P. florihunda and P. 

 verticillata, bears yellow flowers and well grown plants serve a need 

 for some yellow plant for Winter. The stems are covered with a 

 white mealiness. Given the same culture as P. obconica, the plants 

 succeed nicely. 



Lemoine has introduced a variety. La Lorraine, which is a cross 

 between P. Veiichii and P. coriusoides. It is of vigorous habit with 

 rich foUage. The leaves are of medium size, with indentated edge 

 and very hairy on the reverse. The numerous flower stalks, which 

 reach a height of 8 inches, are stiff and hairy, and bear trusses of 

 20 to 25 blooms each, 1^4 inches across, of a fine crimson pink with 

 large, bright yellow eye, and of sweet perfume. Lemoine expressed 

 the hope that this would be the forerunner of a new race. 



Primula hybrida Ville de Nancy is a product of the same cross; 

 its leaves resemble those of La Lorraine, though somewhat less hairy 

 on the reverse. The truss is of elegant shape, and the florets of new 

 form, deeply indented and toothed. The color is a bright crimson 

 purple, with yellow eye. It has a slight perfume. Both of these 

 Primulas bid fair to become popular commercial plants. 



Pollinating Primula Flowers. Any extra good forms of 

 Primula sinensis or P. obconica, desirable on account of large flow- 

 ers, shape, or color, should be set aside for seed. During the Winter 

 months, when insects are scarce, pollinating will have to be done by 

 hand, as it is rarely the case that a flower of Primula is fertiHzed by 

 its own pollen. For seed plants preference should be given to those 

 having the pistil protruding from the corolla tube. It may be stated 

 that Primroses have two kinds of flowers, each kind on separate 

 plants, one having what is called the style elongated until the 

 stigma shows plainly from the mouth of the tube formed by the 

 bases of the petals, while the stamens are attached near the bottom 

 of this tube. In the other flower the positions of the organs are re- 

 versed, the style being shortened so that the stigma is more than 

 half way down the tube, and the stamens are in full view near the 



