Part n. PRIMULA. 291 



few stones, which would prevent evaporation, and at the same 

 time save it from being lost among coarser things. The ground 

 would also be the better of being covered with an inch or so of 

 cocoa-fibre. In moist and elevated regions there would be less 

 trouble, but in all care should be taken to give the snowy Prim- 

 rose what it deserves — a select position on rockwork or in the 

 border, a light free soil, and plenty of water during the warm 

 season. It flowers in April and May, is a native of the Alps, 

 and is by some supposed to be a variety of P. viscosa. 



PEIMULA OFFICINALIS.— Coje/j/z)). 



The Cowslip, that familiar inhabitant of our meadows and 

 pastures, would be well worthy of introduction to our gardens 

 were it not a common native ; but the many handsome kinds 

 that have sprung from it are far more valuable from a gardening 

 point of view than the original form. Many of the plants pass-- 

 ing under the name of Polyanthuses may often prove hybrids of 

 parentage difficult to identify, and some botanists consider the 

 Primrose, Cowslip, and Oxlip as varieties of one species, P. veris 

 of Linnseus, who also entertained this ppinion. Mr. Darwin, 

 however, has recently proved that they have, as good right to be 

 called distinct species as any other subjects held to be distinct. 

 He concludes that, "although we may feel confident that Primula 

 veris, vulgaris, and elatior, as well as the other species of the 

 genus, are all descended from some primordial form, yet, from 

 the facts which have been given, we may conclude that they are 

 now as fixed in character as are very many other forms which 

 are universally ranked as species. Consequently, they have as 

 good a right to receive distinct specific names as have, for in- 

 stance, the ass, quagga, and zebra." He has proved the Poly- 

 anthus to be a variety of the Cowslip, having raised a great 

 number of crosses between it and the Cowslip, and found the 

 mongrels perfectly fertile. 



Polyanthuses present a wonderful array of beauty, and are 

 not at all sufficiently appreciated. For rich and charmingly 

 inlaid colouring they surpass all other flowers of our gardens in 

 spring. It would require pages to describe .even the good 

 varieties. At one time the Polyanthus was highly esteemed as 

 a florists' flower, and none in existence better deserved the 

 attention and esteem of amateurs ; but nearly all the choice old 



