36 
THE FLOEIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ February, 
I have often wondered why these hardy Auriculas are not more grown. No 
doubt they like a heavy soil, which it seems we have, to their heart’s content, for 
it would be impossible to see a row of Auriculas more healthy and happy-like. 
All success to the Auricula revival.— H. Knight, Floors Castle. 
NEW FORMS OF PRIMULA CORTUSOIDES AMCENA. 
(Peimula Sieboldii of Moeeen). 
^Though there are many beautiful forms of hardy PnrwwZa, yet I think 
P. Gortusoides amcena excels them all; it is so free and so bright, so elegant 
in character, and on the whole, so easily managed. It is not, therefore, to 
be greatly wondered at that it should be so much sought after for house and 
garden decoration. The charming variety called lilacina has so much individu¬ 
ality of character, and such delicate beauty, as to give its difference from airojena 
almost a specific value. The white grandijlora, with its snowy disc and rosy 
reverse, is quite distinct; while the pure white self-form alba is also distinct, but 
as yet sadly in need of substance. 
I have often wondered that more has not been done in the way of crossing 
these beautiful forms. With the exception of lilacina and grandijlora., they 
seed very sparingly, but three years ago I was led to think something might be 
done in the way of fertilising the flowers with a view of securing seed, and with 
the ulterior aim of gaining new varieties. It is worthy of remark that Mr. 
James Allen, of Shepton Mallet, a well-known amateur florist, quite unknown to 
me, also engaged in the same work, about the same time, and we were both suc¬ 
cessful in raising a batch of seedlings showing considerable diversity of character. 
From an inspection of flowers sent to me on two or three occasions by Mr. Allen, 
I have been led to think he has secured some most desirable varieties ; but owing 
to domestic affliction, and the constant demands of a large business, he has not 
been able to give his interesting progeny all the attention they deserve. 
In regard to my own seedlings, which received good attention, I am bound 
to observe that though I obtained several of the type of lilicina., I have not yet 
obtained one better than it; but as far as amoena is concerned, I had seedlings 
certainly deeper in colour, one of them of a very rich hue, and with the seg¬ 
ments handsomely fringed ; this was awarded a first-class certificate of merit by 
the Floral Committee of the Eoyal Horticultural Society, under the name of 
laciniata. This is the only one of the type that came fine in character the first 
time of flowering, but some others are very promising, and may be finer when 
they come to bloom this coming spring. A fine variety, named grandijlora 
maxima., also received a first-class certificate at one of the exhibitions of the 
Eoyal Aquarium at Westminster, because of its large size and fine substance. 
Some seedling flowers of this character had pretty, fimbriated edges, but the 
blossoms were under-sized. They may, perhaps, come larger with another season’s 
growth. I am also hopeful that this next spring will show improvements on 
alba., not so much in the direction of a greater purity of colour or larger size, 
