PRIMULA CONFERENCE. 



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They should, however, be kept fairly dry during the winter, and, 

 lastly, but most important, they must have ample drainage. With 

 these essentials to success I will deal as briefly as possible. 



Essentials to Success. — All the species in section Vernales should 

 be grown in good rich soil, and though they do not object to sun they 

 must not be parched. My experience is that plants grown in partial 

 shade are generally the most vigorous. 



In section Farinosae all the species do well in loamy soil or in a 

 cool moist part of the moraine. 



To come to the strictly alpine species, I find that Primula 

 Auricula does well in loamy soil, while in moraine soil it keeps dwarf, 

 which is of course its natural habit. 



Primula Palinuri, as I have already said, does best as a pot plant 

 kept in a cold frame. 



Primula marginata with me thrives well anywhere, and I should 

 look upon the gardener as a kind of curiosity who fails with it. 



Primula carniolica I grow in pure pulverized meadow loam in a 

 shady position, and so treated it increases quickly and flowers freely. 



Primula viscosa flourishes in the same soil as carniolica, but prefers 

 a much sunnier aspect. It also is easy to grow. 



Primula spectabilis does well with me in loamy soil, in half shade. 



Primula glaucescens, P. Wulfeniana, and P. Clusiana grow pro- 

 fusely in loamy soil and also do well in the moraine, where, however, 

 they do not attain to such a large size. They do well both in sun and 

 in partial shade. 



P. pedemontana, P. oenensis, P. villosa, P. cottia, P. hirsuta, 

 P. Kitaibeliana, and P. integrifolia I also grow in loamy soil with a 

 southern exposure. They need to be carefully watched and seem to 

 like frequent lifting and division. Like wives and sweethearts, they 

 resent neglect. 



Primula apennina I grow in loamy soil, but it is a plant with which 

 I have not had much success. Whether it deserves the trouble it has 

 given me I should not like to say. 



Primula tyrolensis and P. Allionii are both very saxatile plants. 

 Primula tyrolensis does well in moraine facing west and is fairly easy, 

 but P. Allionii is much more difficult and does best in calcareous soil 

 in a sunless cavern. It is worth any amount of trouble, for it is a 

 really charming flcwer. It is a subject well suited for pot cultivation 

 in a cold frame. 



Primula glutinosa and P. deorum I always grow in moraine, but 

 with different aspects, P. glutinosa facing south and P. deorum in a half 

 shade. But P. glutinosa suffers from home-sickness or temper, like 

 so many beauties, and resolutely refuses to flower — coax and wheedle 

 it as you may. 



P. minima does best in moraine facing south-west, but is an 

 accommodating little plant, and is quite happy so long as you pay it a 

 decent amount of attention. 



As pot plants I grow all with the exception of P. Allionii and 



