46 BOOK OF OLD-FASHIONED FLOWERS 



bloomers. The hybrid primroses (mostly descendants 

 of P. acaulis and P. altaica) often produce their variously 

 coloured flowers long before the native F- vulgaris 

 begins to bloom. The primroses rejoice in moderately 

 rich soil and partial shade. It is well to divide and 

 replant every two or three years — especially in the case 

 of the pretty P- rosea. In July it is a good plan to top- 

 dress them with a fine and well rotted mixture of 

 manure, leaf mould and loam. Most of the primroses 

 are easily raised from seed, sown as soon as ripe in 

 light soil kept shaded and slightly moist. The old 

 double primroses cannot of course be raised from seed, 

 and are by no means so vigorous as the single kinds. 

 They require partial shade, and are somewhat, intolerant 

 of frequent interference. 



Oxlips, Cowslips and Polyanthuses are all beautiful 

 and easily grown. Among other species of Primula 

 which are easily grown and worth growing are P. 

 denticulata, with long stems surmounted by large mauve 

 flower heads, P. d. Cashmeriana, similar to denticulata but 

 with yellow centres to the flowers, P- cortusoides, with 

 beautiful rose-coloured flowers, and the many varieties 

 of the handsome P.japonica, which specially likes moisture 

 and shade. 



Given a well-drained, yet not too dry, situation, 

 the various Alpine Auriculas are not difficult to 

 grow, and include varieties with many beautiful 

 colours. 



The charming Hepatica Angulosa and H. tribola, in its 

 many kinds, are lovers of shade, leaf-mould, moisture 

 and non-interference. Of the Gentians, the two species 

 best worth cultivating are the little G. verna and the old 

 Gentianella (G. acaulis), both bearing flowers of the purest 

 blue. They are not plants which thrive everywhere, 

 but they like well-drained soil, an open situation, and 

 moisture in summer. The Gentian of Pliny was pro- 



