94 Alpine Plants. 
Primula Allioni (Alps of Dauphiny). 
A delicately beautiful plant, well worth the 
special consideration it exacts. It will grow 
either fully exposed to sun or in a deep recess, 
but must have plenty of both light and moisture ; 
moreover, while the roots must never be suffered 
to become dry, the water they require should be 
conveyed directly to them and any wetting of the 
foliage avoided. A site being chosen, between 
stones, on the north side of the rockery, a hole 
should be made in the bank, sufficiently deep to 
allow a lining of clay to be placed at the bottom 
and sides; then a flat piece of limestone or sand- 
stone must be put on the edge of the clay at the 
front of the hole, and some of the mixed compost 
of three parts fine broken limestone to one part of 
loam be laid upon it; the Primula should now be 
placed against this prepared soil, with its roots 
spreading down to the clay below, and more of 
the soil added, along with another stone to make 
the whole firm; the remainder of the clayed hollow 
behind should next be filled in with compost; and 
finally a large flat stone must have its base inserted 
at the back of all, in such a way that it shall 
slope diagonally downwards into the bank at its 
base, but have its free end projecting over the 
Primula and about a foot above it, so that any 
rain falling on its surface may pass directly into 
the little clay-pit, for in this way the plant will be 
prevented from ever becoming dry, since the clay 
will hold moisture for a long time, and the roots 
quickly take advantage of it and maintain them- 
