78 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



COMMONPLACE NOTES. 



By the Secretary, Superintendent and Editor. 



The Venerable Archdeacon Donne sends us the photograph (fig. 26) 

 of a fine plant of Primula malacoides grown within the smoke 

 area of Wakefield. His gardener, Mr. E. Simpson, contributes the 

 following note on its cultivation, which is very simple : ** Sow the seed, 

 in March or April, in pans, in a mixture of loam, leaf -mould, and sand 

 put through a fine sieve. Water before sowing the seed, which must 

 be spread evenly over the surface and barely covered with fine soil. 

 Place a sheet of glass over the pans, and over this a sheet of brown 

 paper kept moist. Stand in cool greenhouse, and as soon as germi- 

 nation takes place gradually give them more light and air. Great 

 care must be taken at this period that the soil does not become too 

 dry. When the seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them out 

 into boxes or pans about three inches apart, shade for a few days, 

 and then grow on as near the glass as possible. When large enough 

 transfer into three- or four-inch pots, using a compost of loam, leaf- 

 mould, and sand put through a half -inch sieve. After they have 

 taken hold of the fresh soil stand them out in a cold frame, giving 

 plenty of air and shade from very hot sun. About the end of Sep- 

 tember bring them into the greenhouse and place on a shelf as near 

 the glass as possible, still giving plenty of air on favourable occasions. 

 By careful attention to watering, which is a very important factor in 

 the success of these Primulas, they will soon make sturdy plants 

 suitable for table decoration, looking extremely well under artificial 

 light, or as cut bloom in vases, as well as making a delightful show 

 in the greenhouse from October until April, throwing up flower, tier 

 upon tier, in most wonderful profusion, until you have plants carrying 

 from twenty-five tO' forty spikes of white, lilac or pink flowers most 

 sweetly scented. If larger plants are desired, the plants may be 

 potted into five- or six-inch pots, but we find the three- or four-inch 

 the most useful for all purposes. For growing on a second season, 

 they may be re-potted after flowering, and fine plants can be had by 

 the following winter. To anyone who has not given this Primula a 

 trial we strongly recommend it, the main points to remember being 

 cool treatmetit, growing near the glass, and careful watering." 



Strelitzia Eeginae. 



Miss Francis Carnegie Wemyss kindly sends us a photograph 

 (fig. 27) of an excellent specimen of the curious and gorgeous * Bird 

 of Paradise ' flower, flowering well in her garden at Canterbury. The 

 plant had been grown in a warm greenhouse, which Mr. Bead, under 

 whose charge it has been, informs us is kept at about 50° to 55° F. 



