50 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
Broadly speaking, it is that of the Auricula, and thus need 
not be repeated. The only points of difference are that we do 
not allow them to go so completely to rest in mid-winter, and 
that the continuous care and studied culture which are generally 
needed to produce high quality in the Auricula are not needed 
for the Alpine Primula. 
It is to the needs of the hardier Ali^ine Auricula, rather than 
to those of the choicer Shoio Auricula, that I should liken those 
of these Primulas. 
And the benefits which they derive from glass protection 
from late autumn to early spring are about equal, I think, both 
in extent and character, to those derived -by Alphie Auriculas 
from the same, viz. finer quality in the flowers, protection from 
the mischief of excessive wet, and, I must add, preservation 
generally from oblivion and neglect. 1 am sceptical how far 
any of the species care for shelter from cold ; many value shelter 
from summer heat. 
The better opinion, I think, is that the matter of soil is not 
of the first importance. Avoid nostrums, of course. A good 
loam, with a little sand, but inclining to heavy rather than light — 
exactly such, indeed, as you would take for Auriculas — is the type 
of soil which suits most of them best. I think of none which 
prefer peat. 
Complete drainage is, of course, essential ; abundant moisture 
(not stagnant) in the growing season, and a fairly dry autumn 
and winter are desirable, unless the death-rate is to mount." 
Full exposure in summer and free air practically at all times 
are important. The cooler sides of the rockery — east and 
north — suit them best, and at least partial shade from a really 
hot sun they prefer, but it must not be secured by overhanging 
trees. If kept under glass at all, between April and September 
inclusive (as they should be only if necessary to protect the 
bloom), shade will be then essential. The cooler climates of 
Northern Europe arc far better suited to them than those of more 
southern parts. I notice how much better many of them are 
grown in the open in the cool air of Scotland and of the North 
of l^'.ngland than in the South. 
Some time imdi cultivators wore much exercised on the 
subject of the benefit of chalk or calcareous soil for those kinds 
which in nature arc only found upon such soil. The outcome of 
