December 81, 1885 ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
577 
of some of them began to dry up in patches, and there was a danger 
of the ripening being interfered with. Happily the one in charge 
was a patient learner and did not lose his head over the matter, but it 
made him feel. uncomfortable. The pot Vines by this time had 
filled the pots with roots, and it was thought advisable, as the small 
quantity of compost must be partially exhausted, to give them a little 
help in the shape of liquid manure. The effect was very soon 
apparent. In less than twelve hours the leafstalks had altered their 
positions, but they fell again and again at intervals during the next 
two or three weeks, after which time they remained permanently in 
their proper form. 
But could it be possible that the newly-formed borders 5£ feet 
wide and 2h deep should require assistance also before they were 
twelve months old ? Such was the case undoubtedly, for though 
they held out longer than the pots, the Vines there exhibited the 
same symptoms, and the same treatment cured them. 
Afterwards it was observed that the leaves, though apparently 
good were thin, and when the feeding had been continued some little 
time, the leaves thickened considerably, some of them forming warty 
excrescences. With the exception of one or two of the pot Vines 
they all finished off very well, and such canes were matured as most 
people would be satisfied with. The exceptions were of the variety 
under notice, and every plant of this variety suffered more than did 
any other sort. 
So much for the facts, now for the theory. I believe the soil 
used to be singularly deficient in potash, at least in an assimilable 
form, for whenever a manure has been applied which was rich in 
that element the effect has been most marked. On the other hand, 
according to such experiments as have been made, the addition of 
bones to the soil is not attended with any good result. I take it that 
the debris from the native rocks which contain an abundance of 
fossils provide a good supply of phosphate. The land is said to be 
hungry, and certain it is that for farming purposes it swallows as 
much manure as would poison a good fertile soil. As is very often 
the case, I believe the difference between fertility and sterility is 
snnply an insufficient supply of one element, which a person with a 
rudimentary knowledge of chemistry could supply at a trifling cost. 
Gros Colman according to my experience cannot flourish without 
an abundance of potash. Most soils doubtless contain a sufficiency 
at first, but it needs replenishing before Vines have been grown in it 
a great length of time. —Wm. Taylor. 
USEFUL TURNIPS. 
t Ti HE m Sea8 ? n has not been one of the most favourable 
tor the turnip crop, especially on dry hot soils. With us Turnips 
na\e been so far plentiful, but not of the best quality. Our 
nist sowing is made towards the end of February if the weather 
Q ta 'I? l ii le ’ var ieties being Early Milan and Sutton’s 
Snowball. The former one we do not intend growing again, as 
its quality is not good enough on our soil, and as the latter, not 
being many days behind it, makes it really worth waiting for. 
Hereabouts Snowball is the only variety grown for all seasons, 
but am not inclined to think it so good for late autumn and 
winter as Veitch's Red Globe and Chirk Castle Blackstone 
vanetie3. Red Globe we have had in splendid condition since 
September; in fact, this has proved itself the best flavoured this 
year so far. Chirk Castle is the variety we depend upon for late 
W1 L-i e ^- an ' a ®P lan g> being very hardy and of fine quality. For 
exhibition, Sutton’s Snowball is harlly to be surpassed, being of 
good shape and pure in colour. 
w ]*? have a breadth of good Turnips to come in later 
on will, I think, be very fortunate, for in many districts this 
ciop is very backward, owing to the most unfavourable state of 
the giound at the time of sowing Field crops, too, are much in 
the same state of backwardness. Small sowings only are made 
m early spring, as a large per centage often run to seed. An 
east border is the site selected for early crops, and a north 
aspect we find the best suited for summer, being less exposed to 
hot sun. 
t ^' urn 1 jP s we give a fairly liberal dressing of manure either 
irom the stables or cowyard; the latter is preferred for light soils, 
the former for heavy and close ground. It often happens that 
the gardener has no choice in this matter, having to use what he 
can get Such is the case with us, as nothing but horse manure 
comes within our reach, although the ground sadly requires a 
change, and I have known instances when the opposite is the 
case respecting the kind of manure at hand. 
It is a good plan to dust frequently with soot and wood ashes 
at the early stages of growth, as this tends to promote a quick 
development of leaves, and also helps to check the ravages of the 
much-dreaded Turnip fly. To have good Turnips this is often 
considered to be absolutely necessary, as if growth is slow they 
are apt to become stringy and of no use but for flavouring pur 
poses. The practice of sowing broadcast is not so generally 
practised as formerly, for when grown in this way there is greater 
difficulty in keeping them free from weeds than when sown in 
drills. There are many varieties of Turnips enumerated in cata¬ 
logues, perhaps too many, but I think those mentioned in this 
note will be found sufficient in number for small gardens, and, 
indeed, in larger ones too. Most gardeners have their favourite 
varieties of vegetables, and Turnips are no exception to the rule, 
yet I doubt if there are three better or more reliable sorts grown 
than Snowball, Red Globe, and Chirk Castle for all-round 
purposes.—S. B. 
THE PRIMULAS. 
(Continued from page 539.) 
P. magellanica, Lehm. —A splendid figure of this is given 
in Hooker’s “Antarctic Flora,’’ tab. 120. It is by many considered 
only an extreme form of P. farinosa, and so it may be in a 
wide sense. In “ De Candolle’s Prod." it is, however, thought 
worthy of a specific rank, as it is also on the Continent generally, 
and, indeed, when seen under cultivation it appears too distinct and 
well marked to be placed under P. farinosa. Where the latter will 
grow P. magellanica will be found to grow also. It likes a slightly 
drier soil, however, which is easily managed by raising a small 
mound. A mixture of peat and sand, or a place in the bog bed, as 
described above, suits it. It will be found all the better for pro¬ 
tection during severe weather, which we manage with small squares 
of glass. It ripens seed well, by which means it is readily increased. 
It differs from farinosa chiefly in the shorter flower stalks or 
peduncles, in the position of the stamens in the tube of the corolla, 
and also in the colour of the flowers, they being white or very pale 
purple. It differs altogether in habit, much stouter, larger leaves, 
and longer scapes. These characters, as far as we have observed, 
are constant. It flowers with us a little earlier than P. farinosa. 
Mr. Darwin found it in the Magellan Straits. 
P. marginata, Curl, (the Silvery-edged Primrose).—We are so 
much in the habit of considering this plant distinct from all others 
in the genus, that the letterpress accompanying the figure on page 
191 of the “ Botanical Magazine," published May 1st, 1792, may 
not be without interest. The author above quoted says :—“ There 
is no difficulty in determining the British plants of this genus, but 
much in ascertaining many of the foreign ones. Professor Jacquin 
has taken great pains to elucidate them in his ‘ Miscel. Austr.,’ 
where fifteen are specifically described, none of which accord 
exactly with the plant here figured ( [i.e ., P. marginata), which has 
every appearance of being a distinct species. In the 1 Hortus 
Kewensis ’ it is described as the P. glutinosa of the 1 Flora Austriaca,’ 
with which it agrees in many respects ; but specimens sent from 
Vienna show it to be a different plant. In its farinaceous tendency 
it accords with the Primula Auricula, but is very unlike that plant 
as it is figured in its wild state by Professor Jacquin in the 1 Flora 
Austriaca,’ the leaves being much narrower, the flowers larger, and of 
adifferent colour. It differs from P. glutinosa in the shortness of 
its involucrum, from P. villosa in having leaves much narrower, 
perfectly smooth in respect to villi, and in the colour of its 
blossoms, which approach that of the Lilac, but more especially in 
its disposition to become mealy, particularly on the edges of its 
leaves between the serratures, where it is so strong as to make the 
leaf appear with a white or silvery edge. As this character is so 
constant to it, and not to any other species of Primula that we are 
acquainted with, we have given to it the name of marginata.’’ 
As we know this plant at the present time, even from newly 
imported specimens, it approaches no other near enough for a com¬ 
parison. It has a distinctly shrubby habit, which we do not find 
equalled by any other European Primrose. P. viscosa and its 
numerous forms have a shrubby tendency, but they are far from 
being marked in this way, while P. marginata has usually from ten 
to a dozen bare stems, reminding one in winter of a miniature 
stunted Stone Pine. The leaves -with us are always thickly covered 
with farina, which seems to have become hardened at the margins, 
and looks like enamel. They are oval or oblong, in type specimens., 
the serratures are small and numerous, while in cultivated forms, 
and especially in that called coerulea, they are much larger, more 
irregular, and often double. The blade narrows gradually to the 
base, serratures more or less all the way, where it again dilates or 
suddenly broadens at the clasping point. The flower stalk is from 
1 to 5 or 6 inches high, carrying an umbel of from three to a dozen 
or more large clear lilac, blue, or purplish flowers, varying in the 
varieties. Those which have received names are coerulea, densi- 
flora, grandiflora, &c. On the rockery, where it can get sufficient 
time, this is one of the easiest Primroses to grow, almost per¬ 
pendicular positions being apparently the place where it does best. 
It requires, however, plenty of water during the growing season. 
