Plate 123 . 
DOUBLE CHINESE PRIMULA. 
A reference to the figures in the past volumes of the Floral Magazine will at once show 
how vastly superior the subject of our present Plate is over any Chinese Primula we have 
ever had an opportunity of seeing or figuring before. The great size of the head of flowers 
precluded all possibility of getting a representation of the plant into our ordinary Plate, so 
we have been obliged to mutilate the subject, and show one mere corner of this fine Primula. 
On the left-hand side of the Plate may be seen a greatly reduced sketch, showing the hand- 
some compact habit of the entire plant, which must needs serve as a clue to its habit. This 
entirely new variety of Primula pramitens ( Sinensis ) is a splendid double-flowering form, 
bearing dense pyramidal trusses of bloom, which are thrown well above the foliage, and pro- 
duced in the most profuse manner, the flowers individually are large, and the petals of good 
substance ; the colour is of a rich crimson scarlet — a colour which from its refulgency it is 
almost impossible to imitate, and a much brighter tint than is found in any varieties hitherto 
cultivated. 
One of the greatest recommendations of this fine improvement in the Chinese Primula 
is that, although a Double-flowering variety, it perpetuates itself true from seed, the petaloid 
segments not being sufficiently crowded to destroy the reproductive organs. The cultivation 
of Chinese Primroses is now so well and generally understood, and has been so often adverted 
to in these pages, that any remarks as to their management would be considered superfluous ; 
suffice it therefore to say, that Primulas of this strain cannot be too strongly recommended ; 
for blooming as they do in the winter, their value, whether as cut flowers or decorative pot- 
plants, can scarcely be over-estimated. 
It only remains for us to say, that we are indebted to Mr. 'William Bull, of King’s 
Road, Chelsea, for the opportunity of figuring this first-class novelty, and that the entire 
stock of plants and seeds of this Primula is in his hands. 
Plate 124 . 
FICUS PARCELLII. 
Undoubtedly this Ficus, which has excited the greatest admiration at all recent Exhi- 
bitions, is a grand addition to our lists of variegated stove plants ; it was discovered by Mr. 
Parcell, the enterprising collector of Messrs. Baptist and Son, of Sydney, from whom Messrs. 
Veitch and Sons received it. It was awarded first-class certificates from the Royal Horti- 
cultural and Royal Botanic Societies in April of the present year. It is of free growth, 
and maintains its splendid variegation throughout, and is certainly one of the finest of 
all variegated decorative plants introduced of late years. Messrs. Veitch and Sons believe 
that it will eventually become a market plant grown in dung frames and used for decorative 
purposes generally. From the comparative thinness of the leaves and the general aspect of 
the plant, one might consider it as not belonging to Ficus at all, were this point not settled 
by the flower and fruit being known. The general tone of the variegation can be well esti- 
mated from a glance at our Plate ; the habit of the plant is perfectly compact, and its leaves 
are as large as those of Ficus elastica, but thinner and coarsely serrate along the margins. 
They are in colour bright green, irregularly and profusely blotched with creamy-white 
and dark-green ; these blotches taking square and angular forms, and giving the leaf the 
appearance of a piece of rich work in mosaic. In its particular massive style Ficus 
Parcellii has no equal as a decorative plant, in which direction we are glad to see it (where 
already known) generally appreciated. 
