PRIMULA OBCONICA. 



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tion. Divisions and rooted cuttings, once they are independent plants, will thrive in 

 pits and frames under precisely the same treatment as recommended for single primulas. 



Fig. 48. Floweki? 



mdla (Unsatisfactory). 



There ought to be no undue delay in shifting 

 them into 5 -inch pots — a size quite large enough 

 to flower them in as first season plants. The 

 larger or central portions of the divided plants 

 should at first be placed in pots just large 

 enough to hold the roots comfortably, and before 

 becoming root-bound they ought to have their 

 final shift. It is not often that these require a 

 larger size than the 6 -inch pot, over-potting 

 being a too common mistake. In each and 

 every case use soil similar to that recommended 

 for single primulas, and clean, well-drained pots ; 

 also be most particular in burying the hard stems. 

 If these double-flowering primulas are subjected to low temperatures during the 

 winter, they almost inevitably lose all their old leaves, and in cool houses the flowers, 



heat, are apt to be tinged with 

 pink. The best positions for them 

 during the late autumn and winter 

 months are the swing shelves and 

 light front stagings in a house 

 kept at 45" to 50° by night, and 

 warm and airy during the day- 

 time. 



Primula. Obconica. 

 Introduced from China in 1 882, 

 this remarkably free and almost 

 continuously flowering primula has 

 rapidly become popular, and no 



Kg. 4 



more serviceable greenhouse plant can well be named. The flowers of the original species 

 were pale lilac in colour, small and insignificant, and the trusses also undersized. By 

 careful selection and seed-saving, the strains have been greatly improved in every 



