212 
THE FLOEIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ Skptembkr, 
is well marked and constant. The leaves are from 9 in. to 12 in. long, and about 
an inch wide, deep green, with a broad golden bar up the centre, the green margin 
twisting spirally round the golden bar, and some leaves being partially spiral, 
partially undulate. When old, the leaves are of a deep bronzy or purplish- 
green, and the midrib a deep crimson. It is one of the very best of the Crotons 
for decorative purposes, and was awarded a certificate of the First-class by the 
Royal Horticultural Society.—T. M. 
DOUBLE PKIMKOSES. 
E have seen so little of late years of any other than the White, Lilac, and 
Sulphur varieties of the double Primula acaulis, that it was excusable 
if the belief prevailed that other kinds existed only in the imagination 
of enthusiastic florists of the old school, or if they had ever possessed a 
tangible shape, that they had become defunct; but now that a special effort 
has been made, I am rewarded by a species of floral revival, having obtained a 
dozen varieties, including some old friends again brought to life, and also some 
new faces. The members of this family ever were, and ever will be, favourites 
with those who truly love the lowly denizens of our spring gardens. 
In classifying these twelve kinds, I begin at the lightest colour, as presenting a proper 
starting-point. This is the old Double White, one of the purest of all white flowers, and 
perhaps the best known of all the double Primroses. In good soil the foliage is large and 
rounded, and of a light-green colour, the surface being rather uneven. Ordinarily in the open 
grounds it begins to flower early in March; it is very free, and a robust gi'ower. 
The Double Blush is in all respects a duplicate of the White except in coloui', as the 
flowers are deeply tinted with lilac. It is evidently a sport from the White, and is intermediate 
between that and the following. 
The Double Lilac is again almost a duplicate of the White, as there is abundant 
evidence of its origin as a sport from that kind at some remote period ; perhaps'it is a trifle 
less robust in growth, but the characteristic of lessened strength of growth in proportion to 
depth of colour seems to run all through these Primroses. 
The Double Sulphur, or, as it is sometimes termed, the Early Sulphur, is undoubtedly 
the earliest to bloom of the entire number; it is quite distinct in character, having foliage 
that is long, narrow, rather glossy, smooth, and somewhat reflexed; the flowers are of a pale 
sulphur-colour, and are borne very freely. 
The yellows, so called, are misnomers—they are rather straw-coloured, or at the best 
but very pale yellows, but they differ materially from the Sulphur in all respects. Of these 
there are three distinct kinds. The Late Yellow is a robust-gi’owing kind, having dark 
green foliage, rough and uneven in appearance; the flowers are extra large and distinct, and 
have an orange-buff base to each petal. This variety is easily distinguished by the stout 
rounded form of its flower-buds. 
The Giant Yellow has flowers of the same size as the preceding, but just a shade 
lighter in colour; foliage narrow and pointed, and of moderate growth; blooms freely. 
The Giantess Yellow, which w-as received from Ireland so named, gives the richest 
yellow hue, and seems to be a sport from the Giant Yellow, to -which in all other repects it 
bears a close resemblance. These three kinds are late bloomers. 
Somewhat more rare than the preceding is the Double Salmon, or, as it is called, 
the Rose. This is a second early bloomer; the flowers are large, full, and freely produced. 
The colour is really a brownish red, but is quite distinct; the foliage is long and narrow, 
and rather smooth, and of a distinctive character. 
Of a similar type of foliage and habit is the Double Purple, and I believe that these two 
differ only in colour of flower, that of the latter being, -^dien in full vigour, of a deep rich 
purple hue, and of a close compact form. It is a very showy variety. 
The Scotch Red, like the Sulphur, forms a section by itself, being quite distinct; it 
blooms very early and freely, and is one of the most acceptable varieties. The foliage is 
large, rounded, and vigorous, and of a deep green hue, rather rough and uneven. The 
