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REPORT ON THE 



of our favourites before they have become strong enough to 

 plant out. 



Dr. Masters : With reference to these bog-loving Primroses, 

 1 have found that the roots are almost invariably extremely 

 divided, or if not, then that they are provided with a large 

 number of somewhat fleshy undivided roots. [Dr. Masters 

 exhibited a specimen to show the great difference that may exist 

 between two different plants growing in the same soil. The one 

 was a clover with a long, relatively unbranched, woody root, and 

 the other a grass, with a dense mass of fine roots. Both were 

 taken out of the same chink of rock, feeding on the same food, 

 and yet see how different the means by which they secure the 

 food.] To sum up, as far as I know, there are two principal types 

 of roots in these boggy plants, one extremely fibrous, which begins 

 to form new fibres when the spring comes, and not till then, the 

 roots being dormant in winter ; the other, with very thick, 

 fleshy fibres, which probably remain active during the winter. 

 In the latter case, however, it does not so much matter whether 

 there is any water just at hand, because they have it stored up 

 in their own tissues. In my paper I have alluded to the 

 periodicity in the action of the root, and shown how sometimes 

 it is quiet and at other times at work, and how it is necessary 

 to consider these plants as having more or less of annual character 

 for the purposes of cultivation. Whether a plant lives for ten 

 or for a hundred years, it is often necessary to consider it in 

 its growing stage as if it were only an annual plant. The plant 

 comes to bloom at certain definite times and then rests, therefore 

 to all intents and purposes it is an annual and you must so 

 treat it. 



Mr. Jenkins : I should like to add one or two remarks about 

 the Primulas of the Himalayas, and with regard to their culture. 

 I have been a somewhat successful cultivator of some of them 

 for many years, and I think I can fully endorse the Chairman's 

 remarks and Dr. Masters's observations with regard to many of 

 them. With regard to P. sikkimensis, I think the whole secret 

 of its culture is deep, boggy soil and abundance of water. With 

 regard to the remarks of the Chairman about sending down roots 

 to a great depth, that I can endorse from my own experience. 

 As to those that are covered with snows for a large part of the 

 year, I think we can only imitate that condition by one thing, 



