RAISING PRIMULAS. 



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PRIMULA SINENSIS. 



This, the popular Chinese Primula of our gardens, was introduced into this country 

 in 1820. For a time it was known as P. proenitens, but in later years, or since it has 

 become a general favourite, this name has been appropriately changed to P. sinensis. 

 The old school of florists paid little or no heed to this species of \ rimula, and it is only 

 during the past twenty-five years that its value as a greenhouse plant has been fully 

 demonstrated. For a long time there were only two shades of colour, a dull red and 

 white, available. Now we have a great range of colours, including scarlet, crimson, 

 lavender, blue, rose, pink, and intermediate shades. The flowers are large and well 

 formed, and the trusses bold and compact, bearing only a slight resemblance to the 

 starry flowers and loose trusses of the original strain. There is also a great improve- 

 ment noticeable in the habit of the plants. They are compact and sturdy, a few having 

 dark purple and many more light green leaves and leaf stalks, while some have leaves 

 round, and others elongated and prettily lobed, these latter well meriting the distinctive 

 description of fern-leaved varieties. 



It is worthy of note that, with the advent of strains with extra large flowers, 

 the largest measuring 2| inches in diameter, there has been a revival in favour of the 

 old-fashioned, starry-flowered varieties. For instance, the old P. s. stellata, when well 

 grown, delights plant-lovers, on account of the freedom with which its informal, slender 

 trusses of white flowers are produced, these contrasting pleasingly with the dark purple 

 stalks and leaves. Double-flowering varieties, foremost among which must be placed 

 the old C. s. alba plena, have also come well to the front. Some of the modern double 

 forms produce equally fine trusses of large flowers, in as nearly a great variety of 

 colours as the singles, with the same variation in the foliage ; but they are less reliable 

 and serviceable than the old double white. They have this advantage, though, of being 

 as easily raised from seed as the single varieties, and, all things considered, these new 

 double-flowering Chinese primulas deserve fuller appreciation by professional as well as 

 amateur gardeners. 



Eaising Plants fkom Seeds. — Unless extra large plants are required, sowing 

 seeds before April or May is a mistake. The handsomest plants are those from which 

 the central truss has not been removed, a fact long since realised by many gardeners, 

 and amply demonstrated by the accompanying illustrations. If the seeds are sown 

 as advised in the older calendars, the central truss is certain to be produced long before 

 it is desirable to have the plants in flower, and there is no alternative to pinching it out 



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