62 THE BOOK OF THE WINTER GARDEN 



of vigorous plants being desirable, the plants after 

 flowering are frequently thrown away. Primula obconica^ 

 however, is often divided, and grows on year after year. 

 It is one of the most useful greenhouse flowers, as it 

 flowers so continuously. The new forms show rosy 

 tones, the normal colour is mauve. When desired 

 specially for winter flowering, all produced during 

 summer should be nipped out, as with P. florihunday 

 easily raised from seed, and with bright yellow flowers. 

 P. verticillata has taller spikes of cowslip-scented flowers. 

 The plants should be raised in the preceding year. A 

 hybrid between the two last, P. kewensis, is a successful 

 combination of the finer qualities of both parents. These 

 primroses are among the best of winter plants. They 

 flower profusely and take up but little space. The 

 pretty miniature P. Forbesii, with lilac flowers, should 

 be raised annually from spring sown seed. 



Cyclamen 



There are several strains, amongst which are the 

 giant flowered, less free than the normal, and the 

 butterfly type, with the petals crested. Cyclamen are 

 near relatives of Primula ; like them the seed growth is 

 slow, and the seedhngs prone to damp off'if not carefully 

 nursed in infancy. Dibble the seed \ inch deep and | inch 

 apart in pans of soil during August, and in a temperature 

 of 6^ degrees. In February pot off the seedlings into 

 2-inch pots, only half burying the bulb (corm). After- 

 wards pot on as required, and place out exactly as for 

 primulas. Faded flowers, and those gathered, should be 

 pulled rather than cut out. After flowering, if to be 

 kept for another year, do not dry ofl', but place in frame. 

 Young plants often produce a greater quantity of flower 

 in a pot of given size. Pick off all flowers that appear 

 before winter. 



