THE CULTURE AND CLASSIFICATION OF PRIMULAS. 49 
species. Nothing that I know of would be a more welcom 
service to hardy horticulture than a fresh collection and distri- 
bution of reliable seeds of the group in question. 
The reasons for some such grouping as I have suggested are 
evident enough. The greenhouse species, the subject of the 
first class, however beautiful and interesting in themselves, 
associate ill with the robust and hardy border kinds, while noble 
exhibits might be made of these latter in more natural and 
congruous company. 
And both classes are still more out of place side by side with 
the small and choice high Alpine sorts. These latter have a style 
of beauty altogether their own, which is overshadowed and 
obscured by the company of the grosser and more obtrusive species. 
I am aware that at present Primulas are so little grown and 
shown that all that are at present sent to our shows can be 
accommodated all too easily in a single class. But I am not 
sure that the paucity of exhibitors may not be explained by the 
lack of classification which I have regretted. More would be 
grown, and so more be shown, with increased method in 
classification and in culture. 
The rest of what I would say to-day relates solely, or nearly 
so, to my third group, viz. Alpine species of Primulas. 
Nearly all of these have their habitat in Europe ; and all, 
too, may with enough of correctness be termed alpine," for in the 
few cases like those of the Bird's-eye Primrose, and of P. mis- 
tassinica (from extreme North America), which are found at lotu 
levels, either the plants are found as we move southwards, on 
mountains only, or their climatic conditions are alpine in 
character. You know, doubtless, that P. fariiiosa, the Bird's- 
eye Primrose, is the one species of this group found in England. 
It abounds in Teesdale. Scotland has alone the rarer but allied 
P. scotica. 
As regards the culture of these Primulas less needs saying 
than looking at the paucity of growers of them might be 
supposed. 
Outside a few which are really difficult to suit, such as 
P. glutinosa, the blue speik " of the Tyrol, some, like P. minima, 
being fairly easy to grow, but less so to bloom — outside such, I 
say, the general culture is simple, if indeed so serious a term 
as culture need be used at all. 
