PRIMULA CONFERENCE. 



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roses, and more especially those new Indian Primroses 1 of which 

 we have not had much experience, and they are so important 

 that I do not like to let the opportunity go by of asking one or 

 two questions. The plant having died down, as we know most 

 of the Himalayan Primulas do in the autumn-time, a bell-glass 

 may be put over it to protect it. That may or may not be 

 necessary. I dare say it will be found, when we come to 

 experience, that it is quite sufficient to have a little leaf- covering to 

 protect it through our winter, and if the plant has done this for 

 itself in the way mentioned by Dr. Masters, it is a very good hint. 

 So far as the Indian Primroses go I take it that what they want is 

 the power to help themselves to water whenever they like, not 

 to wait for our watering, but to put them in such a place that 

 they can help themselves to water whenever they choose. That 

 is not always easy to combine with safety to the crown of the 

 plant in winter. We want to see all these new Indian Primulas 

 grown to the perfection to which I have not the least doubt we 

 are coming. I should like to know what Dr. Masters has to tell 

 us with regard to the root structure of species growing in boggy 

 ground where they are frozen. Mr. Elwes has seen Primula 

 sihh imensis, and he tells me the finest he ever saw were growing on 

 the banks of a stream ; that they had three feet or more of roots 

 which went down into the flowing stream. We must remember 

 that these things grow under complete protection by the snow in 

 winter, and when the snow is melted they are subjected to the 

 full blaze of the sun and an abundance of water from the 

 melted snows above. We cannot give them that condition of 

 things in this country, because what we call snow is slush, and 

 does more harm than good. It is well to remember what nature 

 has done for them in their own country, and give them as near 

 that condition of growth as we possibly can. I am confident 

 with regard to giving them a great abundance of water. Most 

 undoubtedly it does suit those of the Himalayan species with 

 which we are best acquainted, therefore I think it is very 

 probable it will be found to suit many of the others, too. I 

 should like to ask Dr. Masters with regard to the early manage- 

 ment of this young plant, because I think he can tell us something 

 about the root structure in the early stage which may save some 



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