578 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ December 31, 1885. 
It flowers from February to April. It grows readily from cuttings, 
by which means it may be increased, or by seed, which it ripens 
fairly well. 
Introduced about 1781 by Mr. Lee of Hammersmith. Native 
of the Alps of Hauphiny. Syn. P. crenata, Lam. 
P. MINIMA, L .—Apart from the various forms or hybrids to 
which it has helped to give rise, this is the only Primula belonging 
to the section Kablikia, Opiz., or Chamascallis, Scliolt. It has to do 
with something over a dozen hybrids—in some predominating, in 
others hardly traceable, unless in the size and shape of the flowers. 
Among them may be mentioned P. salisburyensis, P. pumila, P. 
Floerkeana, P. Huteri, P. Steinii, P. Forsteri, P. Weldeniana, 
P. biflora, &c., all of them varying more or less from the type, and 
all worthy a select place on the rockery. Next to our own native 
species, P. minima is amongst the best known in gardens of all the 
European kinds, and perhaps the easiest to keep when once fairly 
started. In one or two of the old gardens we have seen large 
pieces of it in excellent health—in one particularly, amongst which 
were some bulbs quite at home, and apparently not at all disagree¬ 
ing with the Primrose. The position was fully exposed, a few 
small stones dotted here and there among the plants, the soil, I 
believe, being taken from the ordinary garden border. The above 
is an instance of how this Primula will grow in the north, no 
trouble being attached to its cultivation at all compared with what 
we in the south have to get it even to grow at all without particular 
attention. During the months of May and June no sight could be 
prettier than a well-flowered clump of this alpine gem, the flowers 
practically covering the leaves, so thickly do they come from the 
little jagged rosettes. It has already been pointed out that most 
Primulas confine themselves either to the granite or calcareous 
regions. P. minima is, however, an exception ; one collector finds 
it plentifully in one region, while another is just as successful in 
the other. In a wild state it varies very little, unless m height. 
It is, however, occasionally found with white flowers, and some¬ 
times with two on a stem. It grows in little tufts from 1 to 2 or 
3 inches high, forming compact little masses, the small cuneate 
leaves, deeply and sharply toothed at the apex only, forming little 
rosettes, attractive when open. The flower stalks almost sessile, 
rosy pink with a white silvery eye, and almost an inch in diameter. 
At present we have it doing well in pots firmly wedged between 
small pieces of tufa. It is increasing rapidly, and will soon cover 
the pot. We are convinced that the only road to success with this 
plant is a western exposure in a shallow and well-drained soil. It 
was introduced by Mr. Schleicher of Bex in 1818, and also by the 
Horticultural Society. Native habitats : On the highest mountains 
of Southern Europe, almost to the limits of perpetual snow, 7000 
to 8000 feet elevation ; calcareous Alps of Eastern Switzerland, 
4000 to 8500 feet above sea level, &c. P. serratifolia, Gusmus, is a 
variety with more dentate leaves and nearly allied to P. Sauteri, 
also a variety. 
P. minutissima, Jacquemont .—A very small densely tufted 
stoloniferous species, mentioned in connection with P. Hydei, of 
which it is sometimes considered a variety. As we know the plant, 
however, it is much smaller in all its parts. Leaves less divided, 
and slightly mealy underneath. It seems perfectly hardy in the 
open air in pots ; we have not yet tried it planted out. The surface 
of the pot is covered with small pieces of soft sandstone, the stolons 
running freely over them, attaching themselves by their tiny wiry 
roots. For this reason it should never be allowed to become dry, 
and a shady corner is preferred as being more retentive of moisture 
in such a position. It may be increased by taking these stolons off 
in spring and potting them singly. The whole plant, including the 
flower spike, is not more than an inch high ; the leaves, formed in 
little rosettes, are spatulate, lanceolate, often pointed or obtuse, 
and irregularly toothed. The scape one to three-flowered, small, 
but bright rose-coloured. It flowers June to August. Native of 
Alpine Himalayas at 12,000 to 16,000 feet above sea level, and 
from Kashmir to Kumaon at 12,000 to 15,000 feet. Syn., P. 
Saundersiana, Royle ; = Stracheyi, Hk.fil. Var. P. spathulata has 
larger leaves and much larger flowers. Sikkim. 
P. Mistassinica, Miclix. — The lesser American Bird’s-eye 
Primrose derives its name, it is said, from its early appearance in 
spring. It is nearly allied to P. farinosa, and with that species 
forms the only wild representatives of the genus in the northern 
United States. It grows from 2 to 6 inches high, having numerous 
spatulate or wedge-oblong leaves, not distinctly veined, and devoid 
of farinose, which is one of the characteristics of the other, the 
broad part of the blade irregularly toothed from the middle to the 
apex. The flower scapes are sparingly mealy, carrying from one to 
eight flowers in loose umbel. Flowers half an inch in diameter 
when strong, flesh-coloured, the lobes of the corolla deeply 
ebcordate. Calyx composed of five blunt sepals, each having about 
the same number of prominent ribs, and can be grown in the same 
compost as P. farinosa, preferring a shady to a sunny position. It 
dies down in the same way as that species during winter, and pro¬ 
tection from birds, &c., is of equal necessity. It was collected by 
Mr. Drummond and Dr. Richardson while engaged on the second 
Arctic expedition. It flowered with us about the middle of April, 
but generally early in May. Willoughby Mountain, the Upper 
Lakes, &c. 
P. pusilla, Goldie, in “ Edin. Phil. Jour.,” p. 322, t. 11. = P. 
farinosa, Nutt. —D. 
(To be continued.) 
THE PEAR CONFERENCE. 
I see there are some complaints respecting this, but some of them 
were rather premature, and altogether I think exhibitors have reason to 
feel satisfied with the result. The whole of the exhibitors from South 
Wales had a corrected list of names sent to them through the post, and 
in this way the main object of the Conference was fully accomplished. 
This has given complete satisfaction, and now I know of more than either 
one or two growers who are sorry they did not avail themselves of such 
an excellent opportunity of verifying or correcting the nomenclature of 
their fruit. This often happens in cases of the kind, but there is no 
reason it should do so, as anything which is submitted to the hands of 
the ltoyal Horticultural Society goes to a safe and impartial tribunal.— 
J. Muir, Maryam Park, S. Wales. 
PLANTS CERTIFICATED IN 1885. 
MESSRS J. VEITCH & SONS. 
Many novelties annually make their appearance in the well-known 
Chelsea Nurseries, both introductions and home-raised varieties or 
hybrids ; and this year has been particularly prolific, for no less than 
sixty plants shown by Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons have been honoured with 
certificates. In so large a number it might be readily imagined that much 
diversity would be found, and this is the case ; but still we find certain 
specialties taking the lead, as for instance Orchids, Amaryllises, and 
Rhododendrons, which are so extensively and wt 11 grown in the nursery 
named. A few notes on the principal novelties, the merits of which have 
been recognised by the Floral Committee and judges, may be useful now 
that many persons are thinking of adding some to their collections. 
The first place may be suitably accorded to the Orchids, which com¬ 
prise Cattleya autumnalis, Cypiipedium macropterum, C. Sedeni candidi- 
bulum, Dendrobium endocharis, Laelia Canhamiana, MasdevalleaGairiana, 
and Thunia Yeitchiana, while to these must be added Cypripedium 
Godefroyse since it was announced with illustration in the spring ca’a- 
logue for 1884 of this firm, though shown in flower by the two celebrated 
amateurs W. Lee, Esq., and Baron Schroder, to whom certificates were 
awarded. The three Ladies’ Slippers named are very distinct. C. macro¬ 
pterum is a hybrid between C. Lowi and C. superbiens, and curiously 
intermediate in characters. C. Sedeni candidibulum is one of the C. 
longifolium class crossed with C. Schlimii album, and while resembling 
C. Sedeni in form and habit it is much lighter in colour, so much in fact 
that some have designated it a “ White Sedeni.” C. Godefroyoe is a 
grand addition to the genus, and though as yet commanding a good price 
it will undoubtedly become one of the greatest favourites. In the form 
of the flowers it is somewhat like C. concolor and C. niveum, but it 
especially resembles the latter in the white or creamy ground colour. It is, 
however, more beautiful, the flowers being densely spotted with rich 
purplish crimson. The leaves are also prettily mottled, and the plant 
appears to be free-flowering. The habit and form of the flowers are ad¬ 
mirably represented in the woodcut (fig. 85) for which we are in¬ 
debted to Messrs. Veitch & Sons. The other certificated Orchids were 
described last week, except Lmlia Canhamiana and Cattleya autumnalis, 
the former being a beautiful hybrid between C. Mossire and Lselia 
purpurata, with large richly coloured flowers, and the other is small- 
flowered Cattleya of pleasing colour, the crimson lip having a fine white 
throat and contrasting well with crimson purple sepals and petals. 
The present is not the best time for seeing the attractions of Orchids, 
and unfortunately the three or four days’ heavy fogs experienced recently 
have seriously affected many that were in flower, yet Messrs. Veitch have 
still in their houses a pleasing display and abundant promise of a finer 
one later on. The Odontoglossums of the O. Alexandra, O. Peseatorei, 
and O. Andersonianum types are beaiing scores of flowers of good 
varieties, while the bright little Sopronitis grandifh ra imparts a mot 
welcome colouring suspended from the roof. Cypripediums, including the 
form of Sedeni already mentioned, the useful and handsome C. Leeanum 
suDerbum, C. niveum, C. marmorophyllum, and C. reticulatum, are also 
flowering freely. The last named is an interesting species of the C. longi¬ 
folium section with pale green flowers faintly veined with a darker shade, 
and having the petals narrow, tapering, ant twisted corkscrew fashion. 
It will probably prove the progenitor of some distinct hybrids. Of Den- 
drobiums D. Wardianum is attractive in several homes, and some very 
distinct varieties are included in the collection. Calanthes are abundant, 
but the fogs have somewhat affected the colour of C. Veitchi and other 
bright-coloured forms. Phaltenopses are showing flower buds in 
hundreds, and with favourable weather will shortly provide a grand 
show. 
Nine Amaryllises have been certificated, but it is unnecessary to refer 
to them individually, for the general character of the CbeRea varieties is 
