March 18, 1886. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
207 
Albany, and Hundredfold. For the main and late crops the 
best ai*eNe Plus Ultra, Kinver Marrow. Reading Giant, Triumph, 
Sturdy, Yeitch’s Perfection, G. F. Wilson, and Latest of All. 
We grow a small proportion of the above sorts, but it does not 
follow our selection would suit all alike, and I mention them as 
being among the best in the long list submitted to us. 
Ne Plus Ultra is too often classed as a late sort only, whereas 
it may with advantage be sown early in March, and will then 
afford good dishes in about seventeen weeks, or from two weeks 
to three weeks longer than the ordinary second early and main 
crop varieties The most profitable main and late crop variety 
I obtained from Mr. D. Thomson, and this vigorous, branching, 
and heavy cropping Pea 1 have ventured to name Drumlanrig 
Prolific. Mr. Thomson has grown it for many years—a sure 
proof of its value, productiveness, and good quality. Wordsley 
Wonder pleases everybody, while Bliss’s Abundance is quite the 
reverse. Peas make the least haulm, and are most productive 
when sown on well-enriched firm ground, but in anticipation of 
dry hot weather the later sowings may well be made in Celery, 
like trenches, where they can be easily moistened at the root. 
The rows in every case ought to be about same distance apart as 
the height of the respective varieties. 
Broad Beans. —If these were properly cooked, or rather 
served up as they are done here, the hus'^s being removed after 
the Beans are boiled, they would be more popular than at present, 
especially with the middle classes. We make no attempt to 
preserve November-sown Peas during the winter, being content 
to sow as early in February as the weather and state of the 
ground permit If we wanted any extra early we should sow 
small pots and plant out at the same time as <the Peas were 
transplanted, and have done so repeatedly in order to obtain 
extra fine pods for an early exhibition Beck’s Dwarf Green 
Gem is distinct and serviceable, and may be sown thinly in rows 
18 inches apart. Early Longpod, an old favourite, is usually 
dibbled out in double rows about 2 feet apart, and with this, to 
form a succession, may well be sown Broad Windsor Improved, 
the latter and Green Windsor being the best for the main crop 
and late supplies, much the same plan as to the time of sowing, 
being followed with these as with Peas. By far the most profit¬ 
able early Broad Bean 1 have yet grown was kindly sent to me 
by.Mr. D. Thomson, who has grown it for many years, and 
Yeitch’s Improved Early Longpod proves to be synonymous 
with it, the crop of this variety, according to Veitch’s catalogue, 
having unfortunately failed last season. We had extra heavy 
crops of it and saved plenty of seed. For exhibition purposes 
Seville Longpod and Carter’s Leviathan are preferred, and the 
seed should be sown on firm rich land about fourteen weeks 
before the pods are wanted.—W. Iggulden. 
THE PRIMULAS. 
{Continued f rom page 148.) 
P. pinnatifida, Franchet. — A new species belonging to the 
Aleuritia section, and lately found in Yun-nan by M. Delavay, 
along with fifteen or sixteen others, and described by M. Franchet 
in the Fiench Bulletin. With perhaps two or three exceptions 
they are all allied to Himalayan species, and from the descriptions 
seem to have no very characteristic differences from these types. 
The one named above is closely allied to P. Wattii of King, with 
more cut leaves and other minor differences. The flowers are said 
to resemble those of Erinus alpinus, only much larger. It was 
found on the glacier of Li Kiang in July, 1884. It is probable that 
at no distant date many of these Primroses will be in cultivation in 
our gardens. 
P. Plants, Brugg, 1884.—A hybrid between hirsuta X daon- 
ensis, Brugg, which we have not seen in cultivation. We learn, 
however, that it is a very floriferous form and well worth looking 
after. 
P. poculiformis, HooJc. fil. — Under this name the plant was 
figured and described at tab. 6582 of the “ Botanical Magazine.” 
We are now told, however, that it has been previously described 
under that of P. obconica, Hey , and which in consequence will be 
the proper name to keep up. It was found by Mr. Mairies at Ichang 
Gorge in the interior of China while travelling for Messrs. Veitch 
of Chelsea, and was sent out by them in 1882. Without exception, 
as far at least as we know, it is by far the most floriferous Primrose 
in cultivation. A single plant kept growing in a cool house has 
flowered incessantly for the last two years. It is flowering still, 
and to all appearance in perfect health, and throwing up vigorous 
growth. It would make an excellent greenhouse plant, and when 
better known we have no doubt it will be extensively cultivated 
for winter decoration. A half-dozen or so plants placed in a group 
would make a prominent feature all through the dull months, when 
plants with this excellent quality are most required. So far as 
our experience goes it is not likely to prove hardy in the open air 
unless the winter be exceptionally mild. Damp or stagnant atmo¬ 
sphere where fogs are prevalent seems to be its worst enemy ; a 
covering of glass or handlight proves quite useless in this case. In 
localities where fogs are of rare occurrence it may perhaps stand 
in sheltered positions. It grows from 6 inches to a foot high, the 
leaves all coming from the root, broadly ovate oblong, in some cases 
almost orbicular, cordate at the base, toothed margins, wrinkled, 
and more or less hairy. The petioles are from 3 to 4 inches long. 
Flowers in umbels of about a dozen, surrounded at base with several 
small narrow bracts. Flowers an inch or more in diameter, lilac 
varying to almost white. Calyx campanulate, very curious, and 
hence arises the name poculiformis. It ripens seed, but may 
also be increased by division of the root. 
P. Portae, Huter (sub-Auricula X daonensis, Kern ) 1873.— 
Is a very interesting new hybrid, found by Leybold in company 
with P. discolor, which it very much resembles. When cultivated, 
however, the difference between the two hybrids is more readily 
recognised, as well as P. daonensis. It differs from P. discolor in 
the glandular hairy scape, the entire absence of meal in the teeth 
of the calyx, and also in the throat of the corolla. Its leaves are 
somewhat smaller and more freely covered with glandular viscous 
hairs. From daonensis it differs through the peduncles being from 
two to three times longer than the very short semi-circular bracts, 
its broader leaves, and the wine-red colour of its flowers. The 
calyces also are less glandular than that species. In fact P. Portae 
is but sparingly viscous, while daonensis is amongst the most viscous 
of the Primroses. It is doing well with us on a western exposure 
in rich vegetable soil kept free with small pieces of limestone. It 
seems to be a rather slow grower, and to vary with rose-coloured 
flowers. Native of the Tyrol, flowering April and May. 
P. prolifera {Wall, “Asiatic Researches," vol. xiii., p. 372).— 
As yet this is a novelty, having been introduced only two or three 
years ago, along with other seeds sent from the Sikkim Himalayas 
by Mr. Elwe3, and raised by the late Mr. I. A. Henry of Edinburgh. 
The first batch of plants from the home-grown seed has come into 
the hands of the Messrs. Veitch, a number of which we saw planted 
out in their nursery at Coombe Wood last year. The plants were 
small and apparently suffering from being too far south, as those at 
Edinburgh from the same seed were as large again and flowering 
most profusely. It will no doubt be much sought after when 
plants become more rife, and we hope to see it play a prominent 
part in the hands of the hybridiser. It belongs to the whorled- 
flowered set, and although the European kinds are most desirable 
in rockeries, they would be more desirable had they from four to 
six times the quantity of flowers as the present plant has. It is 
likely also to prove the hardiest of the whorled set, as it comes 
from a very high elevation, and therefore better able to stand our 
winters than japonica, verticillata, or Boveana. P. Kaufmanniana, 
Regel, is said to have two or three tiers of whorls ; we have not, 
however, seen it with more than one. It requires a rich soil in a 
partly shady position. The leaves coming from a short stem are 
from 6 to 16 inches long, those we have seen an inch or more broad, 
oblong, running into a broad winged petiole, irregularly toothed, 
and the under side covered with a straw-coloured meal. The 
flower stem is from 1 to 2 feet in height, with five or six whorls of 
sweetly scented flowers, pale golden yellow, from a half to an inch 
in diameter, each whorl containing about a dozen flowers surrounded 
by narrow acuminate bracts. It commences to flower in J une, 
continuing until August. It inhabits the loftiest mountains of 
Java, from 8000 to 9000 feet elevation. Syn., P. imperialis, Jungh ; 
Cankrienia chrysantha, De Vriese. 
P. PSEUDO-acaulis, Brugg, 1884 (vulgaris X officinalis, Brugg) 
we have not seen in cultivation in this country, although we have 
reason to believe it is grown on the Continent. 
P. pubescens, Jacq. — An interesting hybrid between P. super- 
Auricula X hirsuta, Kern, or Auricula x glandulosa, Sering, and 
said by the former author to have played a prominent part in the 
origin of the garden Auricula. This question is so full of interest 
at the present time, and is not unlikely to occupy attention at the 
Conference, that we may be pardoned for giving the views of the 
more prominent authorities. In the Gardeners’ Chronicle for 1875, 
page 806, appears an excellent translation of a pamphlet written by 
Dr. Kerner. In speaking of Clusius, whose great love for alpine 
plants, and Primulas in particular, is well known. He goes on to 
say that Clusius endeavoured to naturalise in his garden a consider¬ 
able number of the alpine species, especially P. Auricula and P. 
glutinosa. To the whole of these species so introduced he gave the 
name of Auricula Ursi, distinguishing each of the varieties or 
species by separate numbers. Of all these transplanted species 
Clusius finally succeeded in naturalising only two—the Auricula 
Ursi 1, or P. Auricula, and Auricula Ursi 2, or P. pubescens, rpots 
