CHINESE PRIMULAS. 



Ill 



leaves, which were notched and twisted, and in growth it 

 resembled the variety called alba magnified. When it flowered 

 the petals were green ; on examination of the organs they 

 proved to be fertile, and were fertilised with their own pollen. 

 In 1883 the seedlings were all white and very weak, and in 

 this year we made the first cross, l x 83, with bright coloured 

 flowers of a Chiswick type known as P. rubra violacea. This 

 opposite blending was to impart strength and colour to the 

 seed-bearing parent. From this opposite crossing we obtained 

 plants with dark stems having lilac flowers. In 1884 we 

 crossed Reading Scarlet on the produce of No. l x 83. During the 

 same year another cross was made, No. 36^, using the pollen of 

 1-^3 on the original, and we continued to do so for three con- 

 secutive years. In 1885 we crossed Doable Lilac on l^. This 

 cross produced the fern-leaved section of our moss-curled race. 

 In 188Gwe obtained a double lilac mottled flower, deeply fringed, 

 curled foliage with bronze edges. This feature only lasted two 

 years and then disappeared. We also selected from the seedlings 

 this year one with a peculiar crisped form of fern-leaf foliage. 



The next year (1887) we made five selections, one of which 

 was white, but showing a distinct moss-curled foliage. 



The same again in 1888, and in 1889 the number was 

 reduced to four types. 



So curious and various have the forms of the leaves been 

 that they have sometimes been designated moss-curled, some- 

 times parsley-leaved, sometimes crispifolia, and even kale-leaved, 

 and eventually illustrated and offered in our " Amateur's Guide " 

 for 1887 as " Moss-curled White " and " Moss-curled Lilac." 



In the Gardeners' Chronicle, January 26, 1889, Dr. Masters 

 gives an engraving of this Primula as seen growing by him in 

 our houses, and which he describes as " a new type of foliage, 

 oblong, but crested." (See fig. 19 on next page.) 



The Chief Uses of the Chinese Pkimula. 



Under this heading I need say little, for everyone knows the 

 chief uses to which the plants are put ; amongst which may be 

 noted, first of all, greenhouse and conservatory decoration, 

 window decoration, table decoration, and as cut flowers. For 

 this latter purpose the double varieties are preferable, because 

 they remain in good condition the longest. 



