154 
THE AMATEUR’S FLOWER GARDEN. 
importance that the plants be sufficiently protected from 
stagnant moisture by good drainage, and that they have 
abundance of water in the growing season, and shade from 
the fierce mid-day summer sun. P. cortusoides is one of the 
best, and a true border plant. The leaves are heart-shaped, 
light green, the flowers deep rose. A sandy loam suits it 
well, and it is more likely to last out the winter on a rockery 
than in a common border, because impatient of damp, but it 
may be deluged with water all the summer to its advantage. 
P. c. amoena is a variety of the last, with larger flowers, varying 
in colour from delicate lilac and rosy red to the purest white. 
Figures of two fine varieties of this primula were published 
in the Floral World of August, 1871. P. denticulcda , with 
toothed hairy leaves, and small lilac flowers, is a beauty to 
grow in a gritty mixture of peat, loam, and sand on a well* 
drained shady part of the rockery. P. farinosa , with leaves 
densely powdered with meal, and lovely rosy lilac flowers, 
requires the same treatment as the last; as does also P. minima ,, 
a little gem with rosy flowers, which soon forms a precious 
tuft on a rockery. P. intermedia comes near to the auricula 
in character. It will do well in the border, if safe from 
stagnant moisture in winter. P. marginal a has a pretty tuft 
of dusted leaves and pale lilac flowers. In constitution it is 
like denticulata. These are all that we can venture to include 
in the list, for other and equally beautiful species are so 
impatient of the inevitable moisture of our winters, that 
they must be grown in frames or alpine houses. Those 
we have recommended may be increased by parting the 
roots, and they will shed plenty of seed, which will germinate 
without attention, and surround the parent plants with a 
numerous progeny. 
Primrose. —Of the common primrose we shall say nothing. 
Let those who love it not quickly expatriate themselves from 
this land, or at least put down this book. The common 
primrose can take care of itself; not so the uncommon 
primroses, of which we shall strongly recommend a few as 
absolutely indispensable to the border. It is the simple 
truth that the very choice varieties of primrose are beautiful 
beyond compare in their season, and an amateur who loves his 
garden, and has none of these charming plants, is like the 
philosopher in the sinking boat. (You know the story.) To 
grow these precious pets, find a half shady spot on a good 
