492 
THE GARDENER’S ASSISTANT. 
an inch apart, and returned to the frame, 
keeping them close and shaded until estab¬ 
lished, when they may receive cooler treat¬ 
ment. Their next shift should be singly into 
3-inch pots, keeping them close for a few days. 
Shift again into 5-inch pots, taking care to 
develop, by means of light and ventilation, a 
stiff, robust habit of growth. They delight in a 
moderately open and rather rich compost, con¬ 
sisting of six parts of turfy loam and one part 
Fig. 599.—Primula sinensis. 
each of well-decomposed cow-manure, leaf-soil, 
and silver sand. The pots need efficient drain¬ 
age, so that water may pass away freely from 
the roots, the soil made rather firm, and deep 
potting is to be preferred. After May the 
plants will do well in a cold frame. Water 
them freely during the summer, but in autumn 
and winter give just enough to maintain a 
moderate moisture in the soil. An airy position 
a short distance from the roof-glass suits them 
during winter, with a temperature not below 
45 to 50 degrees. 
The Chinese Primula is exceptionally well cul¬ 
tivated in the neighbourhood of Birmingham, 
very large specimens 2 feet or more in diameter, 
with large massive foliage and very fine flowers, 
being annually exhibited in November in the 
town-hall there. The Birmingham strain is 
quite distinct. The treatment of the plants is 
as follows:—- 
The seeds are sown as soon after ripening 
as possible. The young plants are pricked off 
when ready, and potted into small pots when 
large enough. They are wintered in these pots, 
on shelves very close to the glass. At the turn 
of the year, when the plants show signs of fresh 
growth, they are shifted into 5-inch pots, and 
kept close to the glass in a genial, warm, green¬ 
house temperature. In June they are put into 
cold frames, kept close to the glass, shaded 
during the brightest part of day, plenty of air 
being judiciously given early in the day, re¬ 
duced or closed altogether according to weather 
before the sun has left the glass. The final 
shift into 8-inch pots is given soon after the 
plants are removed into cold frames. They 
are allowed plenty of room during the whole 
growing season. Weak cow-manure water, with 
soot, is beneficial when the plants are well- 
rooted. A sharp look-out is kept for green-fly. 
About the middle of September the plants are 
moved into a cool, airy greenhouse to flower, 
and from November onwards many of them 
become perfect pyramids of bloom from purest 
white to deep crimson, lasting for several months 
in beauty. Some of the favourite sorts are:— 
Duke of York, Emperor, Eynsford White, Her Majesty, 
Kentish Purple, Marquis of Lome, Meteor, Mont Blanc, 
Princess May, Swanley Giant, White Lady, White 
Perfection. 
Several fine double and semi-double varieties 
have been produced from seed; the former are 
increased by means of cuttings; the latter come 
fairly true from seed. 
The old double white is largely propagated 
by means of cuttings planted in pots of light 
sandy soil in a moderate heat. Another plan, 
that of layering, is, as soon as the old plants 
have gone out of bloom fine cocoa-nut fibre is 
piled up among the shoots, which soon root into 
it; they are then taken off and potted. Some 
growers partly sever the shoots with a knife, 
in the belief that it induces a quicker root- 
development. [r. d,] 
Pyrethrum (fig. 600 ).—Pyrethnm roseum 
has been so greatly improved by the florist that 
the fine double-flowered kinds may be said to 
fill such places in May, June, and July as the 
Aster and Chrysanthemum fill in autumn. 
During the last thirty years or so Mr. Wm. 
Kelway and others have produced numerous 
varieties, both single and double, by continuous 
cross-breeding and selection. 
They thrive under ordinary conditions, re¬ 
sponding readily to liberal treatment, and are 
useful either for beds or to form masses in 
