202 
THE FLOWER GARDEN, 
Primula (Primrose). — The Primula family is a very large 
one, embracing not only a very extensive number of species, 
but also several distinct groups of varieties, as the Auricula, 
Primrose and Polyanthus. Here the limits of our space will 
only permit us to deal with the genus in a very condensed 
form. i 
SPECIES. — Those we deem worthy of general cultivation are : 
P. Alli'onii, a pretty dwarf species from Mentone, with mauve 
flowers borne in April ; rockery ; sandy soil. P. alpina, a 
hybrid with violet-purple flowers borne in May ; rockery ; sandy 
soil. P. altaica, a native of the Altai Mountains ; flowers 
mauve with yellow eye ; rockery ; sandy loam. P. capitata, 
a lovely Himalayan species, with wrinkled foliage, violet- 
purple or blue flowers, borne in round heads in autumn ; 
flower stems mealy ; partially shaded rockery ; moist loam. 
P. clusi'ana, a native of the Tyrol ; flowers bright rose, borne 
in April and May, 6 to gin. ; rockery ; loamy soil. P. cortu- 
soides, a native of Siberia ; height 6 to ioin. ; flowers rose, 
borne in June ; sunny rockery or border ; light, rich loam. P. 
denticulata, native of the Himalayas ; height 8 to i2in. ; flowers 
bright lilac, May to June ; sunny rockery or border ; rich, well- 
manured loam. Cashmeriana, violet-purple, April and May ; 
alba, white ; and pulcherrima, dark lilac, are pretty varieties 
of it. P. elwesiana, native of Sikkim ; flowers purple, June ; 
partially shaded rockery ; loam and leaf-mould. P. farinosa 
(Bird’s Eye Primrose), a British species; flowers lilac with 
yellow eye, June and July; height 6in. ; rockery; loam and 
peat, moist. P. floribunda, a Himalayan species ; flowers 
golden-yellow, summer ; height 4 to 8in. ; rockery ; ordinary 
soil. P. Forbesii, native of China ; flowers rosy-purple with 
orange-white eye, March to June; warm rockery; sandy loam 
and leaf-mould ; hardy in mild districts only. P. glutinosa, 
native of the Tyrol; flowers, bluish-purple, June; rockery; 
sandy loam and peat, moist. P. grandi's, native of the Cau- 
casus ; flowers yellow, summer; height gin.; rockery; loam 
and leaf-mould ; P. involucrata, a native of the Himalayas ; 
flowers creamy white, yellow centre, March to June ; 6in. ; 
moist border ; loam and peat. P. integrifolia, native of the 
Pyrenees ; flowers rose, April to June ; rockery ; moist loam. 
P. japonica, a Japanese species ; flowers crimson, June ; height 
1 to 2ft. ; partially shady moist borders ; deep, rich loam. 
Alba is a pretty white variety. P. latifolia, native of the 
Pyrenees ; flowers violet, fragrant, June ; height 4 to 6in. ; 
sunny rockery ; sandy peat and loam. P. marginata, native of 
Switzerland ; flowers lilac, April and May ; height, 2 to 4m. ; 
rockery ; moist sandy loam. P. minima ; S. Europe ; flowers 
rose or white, June ; height 2in. ; rockery ; moist sandy loam. 
