100 



rnzE ixowee rabbet. 



China Pink, D. Si::e;:-s-:s. though mostly single, is iceed- 

 ingly pretty, from its brilliant carrasts of colouring. 

 Treat as a hardy annual, sowing m aentle bottom-heat, 

 anil tricking cur wken i:s stature an:; :0c sees: a render 

 expedient. It is really a biennial, with an extensible 

 term of existence, like many ::aers. There:: re. any ~ery 

 prepossessing variety (and there will be sure to be many 

 in a large sowing) may be retain e ;1 :y aeracaing ana 

 striking the shoots at the bottom ::" Hie flower Ing-stem. 



Polyanthus — 'Primula elatior, or vulgaris, var. cau- 

 lescens. — This popular cottage- g a i i en fl : n e i i a probably 

 the offspring of hybridizations between the Cowslip and 

 its more showy relative, cae Oxlip. But the transition, 

 in a cultivated state, from Primroses to Cowslips, from 

 steinless flowers to those with stems, is so gradual, that 

 it is not easy to define, first, which are species, and, 

 secondly, which are varieties. Single Pclvanthnses 

 only are Florists' flowers, and leaned worth the 

 honour of having "properties" required of them: but 

 many of the double varieties are very pretty, as well as 

 those called the Hbse-in-hose kin as. and those with 

 coloured calyces, which continue ornamental after the 

 petal has disappeared. The genus Primula delights in 

 leaf-mould, or mixtures of peat and sandy loam, kept 

 scra:-~0ar raoisr. in half- ska dy situarkns. Iney mane 

 gay borders or edgings at the foot of north-east or north- 

 west walls, or under Lofty trees. In pots, unless all owed 

 to bloom in the open air. their colours are less brilliant. 

 Double kinds are increased by dividing the stooL The 

 raising of seedling Polyanthuses is a very amusing task, 

 in consequence of the immense variety obtained. Sow 

 the seed, as soon as ripe (though it will keep pretty well 

 for a year or two), on leaf-mould and sand, coverina it 

 but slightly or not at all, either in shallow pans or in a 

 preparatory bed. As soon as the plants are big enough 

 to be handled, prick them out in the place where they are 

 to flower, and water and shade till they have taken hold 

 of the ground. Polyanthuses and Primroses are not 

 fond of manure. — See Primrose. 



Potentilla. — The herbaceous species, whence many 



