486 FRITZ BAHR'S COMMERCIAL FLORICULTURE 



anthus (said to be a cross between Primula vulgaris, the garden 

 Primrose and P. veris, the Cowslip) is of importance. When given 

 a sheltered position and a little protection it will overwinter in the 

 East and Middle West and is well adapted for the perennial border, 

 being a mass of bloom early each Spring. It is also used for indoor 

 flowering. Treated like the Violet in a cool house it is a paying crop 

 with many florists. A good way is to carry it in frames up to Feb- 

 ruary and bring it in so as to flower for Easter, but you should never 

 expose it to a high temperature. 



An excellent strain of seed is offered which should be sown during 

 Winter, so you can have plants ready for the field by May. Plant 

 them in 5-ft. beds and shade them a little. 



Primula auricula is one of the most beautiful of all the hardy 

 varieties, but, unfortunately, is not hardy enough in most locahties 

 to stand our Winters. Likewise, in many places, the Summers are 

 too hot to suit it. But where they can be grown, the plants deserve 

 a place in every collection. The variety of briUiantly shaded flowers 

 is almost endless and the blossoms stand forth well above a setting 

 of leathery leaves. 



PRIVET (LIGUSTRUM) 



Ligustrum ovalifolium, or Cahfornia Privet is perhaps the best 

 known, but it is not hardy everywhere. Even in many sections of 

 the Middle West it frequently happens that a hedge of it, after 

 several years of growth, gets just large enough to be enjoyed by the 

 owner — when a severe Winter kills the wood down to the ground. 



Ligustrum Ibota, or the Chinese Privet, is hardier and Ligustrum 

 amurense or the Amoor River Privet is now being used most ex- 

 tensively by those desiring a hedge effect rather than an irregular 

 shrubbery border around their premises. The retail grower with 

 show grounds or a small nursery cannot make a mistake in planting 

 a hedge somewhere on his own property and keeping it neatly sheared. 

 It helps bring orders. 



Ligustrum Regelianum, or Regel's Privet can also be used for 

 hedges but it will be more appreciated if grown singly or in groups 

 where it can grow and spread and where the graceful habit of the 

 plant can be admired. 



PRUNUS (ORNAMENTAL PLUMS) 



The purple-leaf Plum {Prunus Pissardii) is what you need to 

 relieve the solid green of the other shrubs in a border planting. 

 The foliage is of a pinkish-purple color and the growth is dense. We 

 have the handsome plants winterkilled every once in awhile, but 



