106 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



showing as nearly as possible the dates when various modi- 

 fications of the original type were fixed and offered in trade 

 catalogues. For this purpose it may be sufficient if I quote 

 from the three sources above named as representing France and 

 Germany, and from our own catalogues for this country. At 

 the same time I would not have it supposed for a moment that 

 I lost sight of the great advance made by other English florists, 

 but the number of growers in England who have devoted time 

 and attention to Chinese Primulas is so large that it would be 

 impossible within the limits of this paper to mention even briefly 

 the results of their labours. 



Table. 



1837-1842. First advance made in raising distinct varieties, nine 

 of which are named by Bosse. Seeds of these were dis- 

 tributed to German houses. 



1840. Messrs. Vilmorin, of Paris, were cultivating fringed 

 varieties. 



1847-1852. Benary was cultivating P. sinensis, "red" and 

 " white." 



1850. Messrs. Stuart were cultivating some varieties of P. 

 sinensis. 



1852. I find that my own house was distributing seed of P. 

 fimbriata at Is. per packet. 



1853. The same at Gd. per packet, also P. sinensis in mixed 

 colours at 3d. per packet. I mention these prices, as they 

 are somewhat significant, for, however popular Primula 

 sinensis was at that time amongst nurserymen, the fall 

 in price from Is. to 6d. and 3d. in one year would seem to 

 indicate that no general demand had set in. 



1853. Messrs. Vilmorin offered seed of Double Pink and Double 

 White. 



1854-1856. Benary was offering a variety called alba rubro- 

 striata, and he also offered the following varieties : — 



1856. Cwpreata. 



1857. Fimbriata striata. 

 1859. Kermesina splendens. 

 1861. Erecta superba. 



Up to this date all the varieties known had foliage of the 

 palmate form ; but in 



