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CASSELL'S POPULAR GAKDENING. 



by cuttings. The flowers of the type are rosy-pink. 

 Some of the hybrids best known in gardens are well 

 worth growing on the choicest rockery, foremost of 

 which we name P. Nelsoni, flowers white. F. frondosa 

 comes to us from North America. 



* Phlox reptana {Creeping Phlox) . — This is a trail- 

 ing plant, rooting at many of its joints, so that its 

 increase is readily effected. There are many positions 

 on the rockery where its employment will not be 

 ineffective. The flowers are violet-mauve in colour. 

 Not at all particular as to soU. P. stolonifera and 

 P. verna are other names by which this Phlox is 

 known. A native of North America. 



Polygala Chamaibuxus (Box-leaved Milkwort). — A 

 pretty little plant, producing Pea-shaped flowers, 

 yellow in colour. Grows readily in peat and loam. 

 P. purpurea, a similar plant with magenta-purple 

 flowers, is also deserving of a place on the choice 

 rockery. Native of the European Alps. 



* Polygonum, Bru/nonis (Indian Knotweed). — For 

 rough parts of the rockery this may properly find a 

 place. It comes to us from elevated positions in 

 India, and is quite hardy. It should be grown in 

 flat, fully-exposed positions, when its leaves will ex- 

 hibit their autumnal- brick-red colour to the best 

 advantage. The flower-spikes are useful for cut 

 flowers, if used with suitable neighbours. Any or- 

 dinary garden soil suits it. Easily propagated by 

 division. 



* Polygonwn vaecimfolium (Bilberry-leaved Knot- 

 weed). — A lovely little plant from the Himalayas, 

 which is quite hardy in England. It is very dwarf 

 in height, but when properly placed and space is 

 afforded, extends over a considerable amount of sur- 

 face. The flower-spikfis are rosy in colour and 

 pleasing to look at whether in bud or fully expanded. 

 It is particularly effective in the autumn. Does well 

 in partial shade in a light loam. Propagated by di- 

 visions and cuttings. 



Primulas (Primroses). — There is scarcely a member 

 of this family unsuited for the rockery, and some of 

 them constitute its brightest gems. They vary very 

 much in size and in other respects : some thrive only 

 in the sun, others in the shade ; but under whatever 

 conditions they can be successfully grown, they are 

 one and all worth the trouble and attention which 

 they demand, in order that they may be seen at their 

 best. There is probably no genus which has afforded 

 to English gardeners so much pleasure at a like 

 expenditure of time, trouble, and money. They are 

 not more varied in appearance and beauty than are 

 the localities whence they have been derived. A 

 garden well furnished with the genus may contain 

 natives of Britain, France, Austria, Switzerland, 

 Southern Italy, the Pyrenees, the Levant, the Tyrol, 

 Siberia, the Alps of Tauria, the Caucasus, the Hima- 



layas and other elevated ranges in India, Japan, 

 China, and North America. Most of the Primulas 

 are spring bloomers, and are most deservedly valued 

 for that among other reasons. They are without ex- 

 ception beautiful, and most of them are as easily 

 grown as the commonest of them all — our native 

 Primrose, one of the loveliest of British plants, with 

 which we commence our list. 



*Primula vulgaris, syn. Primula aeaulis (Common 

 Primrose). — Although so beautiful, we should omit 

 it from this list but for the desire to mention some of 

 the lovely garden varieties now in cultivation, which 

 are fit to grow on any rockery. Our selection is — ^the 

 Double Crimson, Crousse's Lilac, the ordinary Double 

 Lilac, platypetala (Double Violet), Double Purple, 

 Double Sulphur, Double Yellow, and Double White. 

 Singles : auriculajlora, altaica (lilac), Rosy Mom, 

 Gem of Roses, Crimson Banner (maroon-crimson). 

 Fairy Queen (pure white). Lustrous (deep crimson 

 with lemon eye), Scott Wilson (the Blue Primrose), 

 and Violetta (violet-purple). There are numberless 

 others. If it be borne in mind that common Prim- 

 roses when wild thrive best in partially sheltered and 

 shady situations, where an abundance of leaf -mould 

 is usually to be found, a clue to the soil and situation 

 suitable for the bulk of them is at once suggested. 

 The double kinds are more difficult to grow than the 

 bulk of the single kinds, and if success is desired, 

 extra trouble must be bestowed upon them ; and it 

 will be advisable for most of them to Have duplicates 

 in pots preserved in frames facing north during 

 winter. Many of them will produce plenty of off- 

 sets, and it is by the offsets that the named kinds are 

 mainly to be propagated. The double kinds produce 

 fewer offsets than the singles. Seed-sowing is also 

 to be resorted to for increasing stock, but seedlings 

 win often, indeed generally, vary more or less from 

 the parent that produced them. Seed should be 

 sown as soon as ripe on moist soil of which leaf- 

 mould is a principal constituent, and should be just 

 covered with a thin film of the finest compost or sand. 

 They should be sown in a position facing north, or 

 where they will not be exposed to the mid-day sun. 

 We now proceed to mention some of the choicest 

 species from other countries, and a few natives worth 

 growing on the choice rookery, with this one observa- 

 tion, that, where not otherwise mentioned, the hints 

 above given as to cultivation for the Common Prim- 

 rose and its varieties wiU apply to all named below. 



* Primula amarna (Pleasing Primrose). — A purple- 

 hued Primrose, blooming very early. It has large 

 leaves, and should have a sheltered situation on ac- 

 count of its precocity. Native of tho Caucasus. 



* Primula Auricula (Auricula).— The kind here re- 

 ferred to is what by florists are called Alpine Auri- 

 culas. Allowed to remain in the same spot for two or 



