C0:\i:\I0N GARDEX FLOWERS. 53 



grown in pots with the protection of a cold frame, 

 being liable to injury from wet. 



F. cashmcriana is, as its name implies, one of the 

 Himalayan group, and produces large caj)itate trusses 

 of light purple flowers, with yellow centres. 



F. ciUata appears to be closely allied to F. inter- 

 media, the latter a supposed hybrid between F. viscosa 

 and F. Auricula. Some hold them to be different, 

 but they are very close together. It is represented 

 by a dwarf, tufted, free -growing iy^e, throwing up 

 trusses of bright red- 

 dish-purple flowers 

 like those of an Al- 

 pine Auricula. 



F. cdiata purpurea 

 and F. ciliata coccinea 

 are both very fine 

 varieties ; one has 

 bright purple, the 

 other bright red 

 flowers ; they are 

 charming subjects 

 for cultivation in 

 pots. There are a 

 few varieties of F. 

 intermedia, such as 

 Minstrel, Heroine, 

 Portia, and others 

 that have been raised 

 from seed, and vary 

 in coloiu-, but all 

 charming subjects 

 for pot-culture. 



F. Clusiana is a 

 charming dwarf 

 species, with large 

 rich bluish - pui'ple 

 flowers. 



F. cortusoides is the 

 Cortusa - like Prim- 

 rose, a native of 



Siberia, entirely distinct in appearance from any of 

 the species commonly grown, the leaves being com- 

 paratively large and soft, not nestling firmly on the 

 ground like many of the Eiu-opean species, but ele- 

 vated on stalks two to four inches in length ; the 

 deep rosy clusters of flowers being produced on 

 stalks from six to ten inches in height. In conse- 

 quence of its taller and freer habit, the plant is liable 

 to be much injured and disfigured if placed on an ex- 

 posed spot or open border ; therefore it should have 

 a sheltered position where, while it will not be ex- 

 posed to cutting winds, it at the same time will not 

 be shaded to its injury. There are a white, a lilac, 

 and one or two other vaiieties. 



But this section, charming as the forms are, is 



quite eclipsed in stately beauty and great variety by 

 the larger group of F. cortusoides amcena, but now 

 more properly known as F. Sieboldi. The type was 

 at first considered to be a variety of F. cortusoides, 

 but is now regarded as quite distinct, being much 

 larger in all its parts, and having noble trusses of 

 beautiful deep rose-coloured flowers. It came to 

 us fi'om Japan, having with two or thi'ee other 

 varieties been introduced therefrom; but, like F. 

 cortusoides, it is believed to be a native of Siberia. 



It is worthy of men- 

 tion that this fine 

 Japanese Primrose 

 was in cultivation in 

 this country for 

 several years before 

 seedlings were ob- 

 tained from it. But 

 several raisers, both 

 at home and on the 

 Continent, succeeded 

 in raising seedlings, 

 and now there is in 

 cultivation a large 

 group of varieties, all 

 of a most ' valuable 

 character, placing 

 them in the front of 

 all the hardy Prim- 

 ulas for beauty and 

 eifectiveness. They 

 are all of easy cul- 

 ture, thriving in al- 

 most any kind of 

 garden soil that ia 

 not too wet in win- 

 ter. But as it flowers 

 early it is liable to 

 be cut off by scoring 

 frosts, and therefore 

 we recommend that 

 in pots in a cold frame, and flowered 

 a cool green-house. It is a plant that 

 will bear gentle forcing, and for decorative pur- 

 poses in spring there are scarcely any other plants 

 that can compete with F. Sieboldi and its varieties. 

 The creeping roots spread themselves about in the 

 soil, and as the points of these put forth growths, a 

 small clump is soon made into a large one, and by 

 dividing them in autumn, a variety can be largely 

 increased. A\lien grown in pots they should be well 

 drained, and a rich, light, free soil iised. After the 

 plants have done flowering the pots should be plunged 

 in cocoa-fibre or cinder-ashes, during the summer, but 

 not allowed to suffer for want of water. They can be 

 divided if necessary about October, and in re-potting 



Primula lirvOLUCRATA. 



it be grown 

 there, or in 



