PRIMULA CONFERENCE. 



171 



stems ; P. Balbisii, a species with yellow scentless flowers ; 

 P. Facchinii, very dwarf, with rosy flowers ; P. minima, to which 

 the previously named species is allied ; P. glaucescens, with 

 rose-coloured flowers and glossy leaves ; P. spectabilis, a fine rock 

 plant, with rosy flowers and glabrous entire leaves ; P. coronata 

 (minima x spectabilis) ; P. Flcerkeana, with blush flowers ; and 

 the Himalayan P. floribunda. P. farinosa, and P. f. acaulis, the 

 stemless variety, are both pretty on the rockwork, as they pro- 

 duce masses of bright pink flowers. P. japonica is now well 

 known as a border plant of a showy kind. Several varieties of 

 P. denticulata were shown, as well as P. Dinyana, P. Goblii, 

 a variety of P. Auricula to which great interest attaches as a 

 possible source of the florists' Auricula ; the fine North American 

 P. Parryi, with magenta flowers on tall stalks ; P. pubescens, 

 similar to P. ciliata but with larger heads of pink flowers ; 

 P. Auricula var. marginata, an interesting variety with white- 

 powdered leaves having a pale white margin and bright yellow 

 flowers in clusters ; P. admontensis x , and P. Kitaibeliana. 

 Many other species and varieties of Alpine plants were shown by 

 Messrs. Backhouse and Sons. 



Messrs. Paul and Son, The Old Nursery, Cheshunt, showed 

 mainly species and hybrids of European origin, such as P. viscosa 

 in several forms, as found on the Swiss, Italian, and Pyrenean 

 mountains ; P. acaulis, the wild Primrose, a purplish-coloured 

 variety ; P. integrifolia, a pretty purplish-rose ; P. Facchinii, 

 P. villosa, with large rose-coloured blooms ; P. Clusiana, with 

 carmine flowers on stalks five inches high ; P. Churchilli ; 

 P. intermedia ; P. Obristi, yellow, with mealy foliage ; P. elatior ; 

 P. Auricula purpurea, with glaucous foliage, flowers brownish-red ; 

 P. latifolia (graveolens, hort.), with rosettes of serrate pubescent 

 leaves bearing rosy-purple flowers ; Androsace villosa, white ; 

 A. Laggeri, pink ; A. ciliata, pink ; and A. Chama3jasme, white ; 

 several varieties of Primula denticulata, and an Indian species 

 of Primula, unnamed, well furnished with stout peduncles carry- 

 ing heads of purplish flowers. 



Mr. P. Dean, Banelagh Poad, Ealing, showed a small group 

 of Primulas, among which was a very large and partially double 

 flower of an Alpine Auricula named Evolution, the anthers being 

 represented by abortive petals ; the colour was of two shades of 

 purple, dark in the centre portion, running off into a paler colour 



