72 THE FLORIST AND "*" [~ 



adjacent isles, and are most commonly found growing in damp woods, moist 

 meadows, or along the bottoms of hedge rows; notwithstanding which, they 

 will prosper in the hot and dry climate of America, if properly cared for. 

 There are many such spots as these plants delight in on most estates of any 

 size, where the little emigrants would flourish and make themselves at home, 

 become acceptable and agreeable companions to the many beauties w T ith which 

 our woods abound, would gladden our tastes of sight and smell, the more 

 particularly so as they flower about the same time that many of the most 

 handsome natives do. 



The three subjects to which we have reference, generally rank in botani- 

 cal works as so many distinct species of the genus Primula, and are known 

 as P. vulgaris (Primrose ;) the simple stemmed, P. veris, (Cowslip;) the com- 

 pound stem with incurved limb, P. elatior, (Oxlip;) the compound stem with 

 flatted limb, and from which the Polyanthus has emanated. It has been a 

 much disputed point whether or no they are all from one origin ; if so, P. vul- 

 garis has been evidently the original type. Some botanists have founded 

 their belief in this respect upon the fact, that they have seen the simple form 

 become compound when under cultivation. Others, again, assert that the 

 latter is always existing, only so close to the base as not to be discernible, 

 excepting by dividing down to the centre. I have seen, in a state of nature,* 

 examples where the compound stem was not at all to be discovered, and 

 likewise both forms on the same plant ; but such examples are very rare. — 

 As a general thing, the three forms of Primrose, Cowslip and Oxlip are very 

 permanent in the individual variety, give them ever so much culture ; and I 

 know from experiment that no cultivation will change the character, except- 

 ing in very few cases ; yet even this is sufficient to demonstrate the proba- 

 bility of one origin, and it likewise shows the reason why the different vari- 

 eties from seed keep so true to structural character. It has been contended 

 that the Cowslip is distinct from the others, on account of the stronger smell 

 of Anise which its roots possess, the incurved form of the limb of the flower, 

 the more inflated calyx, and the smaller and more wrinkled leaves ; but this 

 argument falls to the ground, when, as is true, w r e find these characters- 

 slightly change occasionally amongst a lot of seedlings, and approximate 

 somewhat towards the Oxlip. Now, if the sportiveness inclines towards any 

 particularly desired point in a natural way, we can mould after generations 

 to our will — and so in this case. The prevailing color in a wild state is yel- 

 low, but all the forms are sometimes found diverging more or less into light y 

 tawny crimson, or faint purple, so that this feature is no criterion ; and I see 

 no reason why an acknowledged specific difference should exist. This divi- 

 sion is not an example of recent origin t but allow me to observe- here, thai 



