CHINESE PRIMULAS. 



107 



1864. Benary first offered filicifolia rubra, or Bed Fern-leaved ; 

 and the following year slicifolia alba. 



18G4. Messrs. Stuart mention that they were cultivating fern- 

 leaved varieties this year. 



18G4. My house was offering a strain known as Dobson's Choice 

 Auricula-flowered, and in 



18G7. We were offering "Finest Double P. sinensis." 



1868. Benary offered Double White Primula, Double Ked, and 

 Double Carmine. 



1868. My house were distributing a strain raised by Mr. 

 Williams, and we offered in 



1869. Erccta alba violacea ; also in 



1870. A fine variety named Magnum Bonum, which has since 

 been too much lost sight of. 



1870. My house were distributing seed of fern-leaved varieties, 

 and M. Vilmorin was cultivating the fern-leaved sorts, 

 and in 



1871. He offered these, but mentions that fern-leaved plants had 

 been shown at exhibitions as far back as 1868. 



My house next offered the following : — ■ 



1873. Varieties named Florence, Marginata (this latter was a 

 lilac variety with very pale edges), also carminea alba 

 punctata. 



1874. Village Maid. 



1875. M. Vilmorin mentions that the " Lapipe " Primula was 

 offered this year, which he describes as the first deep- 

 coloured variety with rounded petals. 



1875. The fringed varieties of the same Primula were grown by 

 M.de Vilmorin, and described as "purple-red" and" blood- 

 red," from which he states, or parallel with which, the 

 whole of the Chiswick Eed and similar varieties were 

 developed. This, I think, is very likely to have been the 

 case, as florists who grew Continental strains at this 

 time found many sports greatly resembling the Chiswick 

 Eed. In 



1876. Double Prince Arthur, a pale carmine variety, was offered 

 by my house, and in 



1879. Euby King (First-class Certificate 'Royal Horticultural 

 Society). 



