THE COWSLIP. 



581 



are called primroses. The second includes those 

 whose flowers are in umbels, on a scape or 

 flower-stalk rising from three to six inches, or 

 more, and are called polyanthuses. There are 

 about a dozen beautiful varieties of the first 

 in cultivation, and an immense number of the 

 second. 



The tests of a fine polyanthus are, a strong, 

 erect, and elastic stem, and peduncles or flower- 

 stalks. The tuber of the corolla above the calyx 

 should be short, well filled with the anthers or 

 summits of the stamens, and should terminate 

 fluted, rather above the eye, or middle circle. 

 This should be round, of a bright clear yellow, 

 and distinct from the ground colour. The 

 ground colour is most admired when shaded 

 with a light and dark rich crimson, resembling 

 velvet, with one mark or stripe in the centre of 

 each division of the limb, bold and distinct from 

 the edging down to the eye, where it should 

 terminate in a fine point. The pips should be 

 large, quite flat and round, as much as is con- 

 sistent with their peculiar figure, which is cir- 

 cular, with the exception of those small inden- 

 tures between each division of the limb, marking 

 it out into five or six heart-like segments. The 

 edging should resemble a bright gold lace, bold, 

 clear, distinct, and so nearly of the same colour 

 as the eye and stripes as scarcely to be distin- 

 guished. 



The polyanthus is propagated by dividing the 

 roots, which are perennial, or by slips; and for 

 procuring new varieties, by sowing the seed of 

 approved sorts. For this latter purpose the seed 

 should be gathered about the last week of June, 

 and in ten days afterwards it is to be sown in 

 boxes placed in the open air, with a northern 

 exposure. In July the plants are to be put out 

 into open beds, taking care not to disturb the 

 earth about the J'oung roots when moving them. 

 They are to be shaded from the sun, and watered 

 for some time, till they recover their vigour. 

 Some of these plants will show flowers the same 

 autumn, and many in the following spring. 

 They require to be transplanted every two years. 

 The best soil is a light loam, with a consider- 

 able proportion of sand, a small quantity of 

 rotten dung, and a little leaf mould, or peat 

 earth. 



These plants are very hardy, and seldom die 

 even in the most ungenial seasons. During the 

 heat of summer they are, however, liable to be 

 destroyed by snails and slugs, and by a small 

 red spider. 



The Cowslip (p. mrisj, differs from the 

 primrose by its shorter leaves, by the flowers 

 hanging in an umbel or bunch, with a leafy 

 involucrum, instead of each flower rising on a 

 separate stalk, as in the primrose; and by the 

 odour smelling stronger of anise. It is indi- 

 genous to most parts of Great Britain, and gi-ows 



in moist pastures, and open situations, flowering 

 in May. Both double and single varieties are 

 cultivated in gardens, though not so frequently 

 as the polyanthus. The most noted variety is 

 the double cowslip, which has its corolla so mul- 

 tiplied as to form a full flower, like that of a 

 double rose.* 



The Oxlip Cp. elatior). This is distinguished 

 from the primrose by its many flowered scape, 

 and from the cowslip by the flat border of the 

 corolla. It is also a native of this country, and 

 is found in woods, thickets, and sometimes in 

 open pastures; but it is not nearly so common 

 as the other two species; indeed. Sir J. E. Smith 

 is of opinion that this flower is a hybrid pro- 

 duction from a primrose, impregnated by a cow- 

 slip. Its habit, the contraction towards the 

 middle of the leaf, and the umbellate flower- 

 stalk, indicating the father; whilst in the form, 

 colour, and scent of the corolla, it most resembles 

 the mother. If this should be the case, it would 

 be a singular instance of the very rare connec- 

 tion of species in a state of nature. 



The Auricula (p. auricula). This beautiful 

 species is a native of the Swiss mountains, as 

 also of Austria, Syria, and the Caucasus. It 

 was introduced into England towards the close 

 of the sixteenth century, and cultivated by 

 Gerarde under the name of bear's ear, or moun- 

 tain cowslip. The leaves are obovate, entire, or 

 sen-ated and fleshy, varying, however, in form, 

 in the numerous varieties. The flowers are borne 

 on an erect umbel, and central scape, with invo- 

 lucrum. The original colours of the corolla are 

 yellow, purple, and variegated, with a mealy 

 covering. About a century ago the taste for 

 this flower in England was at its height; and 

 from our gardeners the Dutch were supplied with 

 plants till the period of the French revolution, 

 when we again began to receive our supply from 

 Holland. So great was the perfection to which 

 the culture of this plant was brought, that 

 Henry Stove, a gardener near Colchester, had 

 some plants with not less than 133 blossoms on 

 one stem. 



Justice was a famous grower of this and othei 

 flowers; and Maddock is one of the best modern 

 cultivators. 



The best collections of auriculas are now to 

 be found among the commercial gardeners near 

 London, and the operative manufacturers and 

 artizans near Manchester, Paisley, and other 

 large towns, who devote their leisure hours to 

 the delightful amusement of raising fine varie- 

 ties of this and other flowers. 



The varieties of this flower are endless. Hogg 

 enumerates 200, and Maddock nearly 600, with 

 names. These consist of plain, one coloured 

 flowers, or selfs — of double flowers, and painted, 



* Gardener's Mag. vol. 7. 



