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REPORT ON THE 



subject. Although we cau imitate many of the natural conditions 

 in the soil, we cannot possibly imitate the atmospheric con- 

 ditions, and I think that will be the cause of failure in many of 

 these Himalayan species. Speaking of the Himalayan species as 

 a whole would be misleading, because the habits of the different 

 species are so very various, and the results obtained so very 

 different, that every one must be dealt with separately to do it 

 justice. P. sikkimensis is a species with which I have been very 

 successful. My plants grow usually two feet high in deep and 

 moist soil, but I find they cannot stand even the poor sunlight 

 that we get in Cheshire. Last year (1885) June 4th was an 

 abnormally hot day, 82° in the shade, and in my climate all the 

 plants that were exposed to the sun were burnt up completely, 

 and failed to ripen seed in consequence. I find that a north 

 aspect is desirable for them. As regards P. rosea I find it is 

 prolific to any degree. A seedling flowering this year for the first 

 time by next year will attain such development that by pulling 

 it to pieces I can with the greatest ease make fifty plants of it. 

 Primula rosea is one of those plants that we can increase from 

 the stock ; but with regard to some I find it very difficult to 

 do so. I have never succeeded in dividing P. sikkimensis or 

 P. capitata with any good results. Some, however, such as 

 the species of the denticulata section, are so hardy and enduring 

 that I find that all that is wanting is to encourage their 

 flowering at the right time, which they do not do in our 

 climate ; they try to flower in winter ; but if we take 

 them about the beginning of autumn and cut the crown into 

 bits, not dividing the separate crowns into crowns, but cutting 

 each crown into half-a-dozen pieces with a knife, having a 

 bit of top and a bit of root ; then it has well developed, sufficient 

 to carry them through the winter, and flower about April, when 

 the climate is suitable for them. That remark applies to that 

 section only. I have not tried it with any other. Then with 

 regard to P. purjnirea, of Royle, and some of the others, I find the 

 tendency is for the crown to rot off in winter with excess of 

 moisture in our chmate. I suppose they feel the want of the 

 covering of snow and the freezing up which they get in their 

 native home. By Professor Foster's advice, I tried last autumn 

 puttmg a bell-glass or an inverted pot over it night and day with 

 very good results. I found some Primula Stuartii flower a second 



