516 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
April 17, 1886. 
larly perfect forms of the Primula family found 
in florists’ Auriculas and Polyanthuses and in 
the botanists’ rugged and quaint Primulacese, 
there is also much that is incongruous, for in 
the one case points and outlines govern every¬ 
thing, in the other these things are abomi¬ 
nations. 
Most probably we shall see the botanist 
turn from the contemplation of perfect thrums, 
paste, edgings, and outlines with sorrowful 
feelings, whilst the florists will turn from 
the botanical specimens of the Primula race 
with contempt; and yet it must be admitted 
that but for the botanist the florist would 
be having hut a poor time of it. It is 
true that in Primula veris, the common Cow¬ 
slip, and in Primula acaulis, the Primrose 
of our woods, we have material for which 
we have to thank no one. But turning to 
the Auricula, at least we must admit that 
here is to he found good reason for gratitude ; 
and we may say as much for those beautiful 
Japanese (Sieboldi) and Chinese forms so de¬ 
corative in our greenhouses during the winter. 
Why in the vast Primula family our florists 
have stopped short at some three or four of its 
members it is not easy to understand ; but such 
beautiful kinds as purpurea, obconica, grandi- 
flora, Abysynica, and some others surely offer 
material upon which florists may expend their 
skill in broadening, deepening, varying, and 
generally of improving, if not in the botanists’ 
sense, at least in a garden or florists’ way; and 
to objections to this so-called improvement of 
Primulacese, it must be submitted that those so 
operated upon have proved of wonderful value 
for garden purposes, and hence have become 
singularly popular. Take the Chinese Prim¬ 
rose for example; what grand and singularly 
beautiful developments has that produced, 
what beauties for our greenhouses in winter, 
and what capital marketable material. The 
development of double strains has proved of 
great service ; and this Primrose retains still 
the pride of place in being at once the most 
easily cultivated and most prolific of greenhouse 
winter flowers. 
The Auricula signifies a wondrously beautiful, 
if, in some respects, a rather delicate, section of 
the Primula family. What strange and curious 
markings are found in the show section, what 
rich colours in the Alpines, what singular beauty 
in the coarse hardy border kinds. Why do 
some revel in a coating of powder—dusty millers 
in reality—whilst others are as free from the 
flowery grains as if grown in a pond ? Then, 
why have some Avhite paste, others a rich gold 
centre, and others, again, a miserable centre, 
that is neither one or the other 1 Polyanthuses, 
again, exhibit Primulas in very varied and 
popular form, the florist finding in his gold-laced 
section singularly refined markings, that in high- 
class flowers are perfection. But for the flower 
border in early spring, just where the gold-laced 
kinds would be poor indeed, the rich-hued and 
many-coloured fancy kinds are gay and beautiful. 
Here, perhaps, we owe something to our native 
Plora, as certainly we do when we reach the 
lowly but lovely Primrose—perhaps the most 
popular, if not the most widely-growing of 
Primulas. Were all the forms found in Alpine, 
Himalayan, Cashmerian, or Japanese climes 
brought together in number and variety, yet 
would they lack in the beauty and attractiveness 
that may just now be found in any good bed of 
garden Primroses. If it be characteristic of the 
botanist to glorify the original species from far 
distant lands, even though lacking elegance and 
attractiveness, it is equally the nature of the 
florist—perhaps, we may say, of the gardener— 
that he should exalt, and, indeed, find more 
delight in the varied garden forms which have 
grown up under his own eyes, and probably are 
the product of his own hands. 
It is not without interest we find that just as 
the florists are charged with cramping and 
limiting floral beauty, they, on the other hand, 
retort that their action has led to floral de¬ 
velopments in flowers once thought utopian. 
If we take the Auricula for example, it must 
not be assumed that in the hundreds of years 
which have passed since Primula Auricula was 
first operated upon for its improvement, only 
the show kinds, with their wondrous combina¬ 
tions and perfect markings, have resulted. 
Myriads of seedling plants, cast aside as out of 
the range of the object in view, have been pro¬ 
ductive of exceeding beauties in our gardens, 
and these, again, have been the parents of other 
and finer forms. From out of these, in some 
measure, have come the double kinds; so, also, 
must have come all the charming Alpines, and 
not least, all those huge and quaint flowers which 
will thrive in garden borders as freely as weeds. 
The pretty laced section of the Auricula affords 
a good example of what has been done in the 
generations which have passed away since the 
first true florist grew Auriculas. This section is 
of more modern origin, and has hardly yet found 
its way to the affections of the older school of 
Auricula fanciers. 
But those who are engaged in the growth 
and selection of laced forms find, as all Auricula 
•growers have found, that to one seedling pro¬ 
ducing flowers which approach their ideal there 
are myriads which are a long way removed from 
it, and yet these almost always possess some 
merits. Perchance, in the estimation of those 
who care for hardy garden flowers without 
regard to florists’ points, they are A T ery beautiful, 
and esteemed as A'aluable elements in garden 
decoration. The same surely may be said of 
the Polyanthus, for our gardens noAv may be 
rich and beautiful with all sorts and kinds of 
these, evolved through many years by the 
patience of the florist from out of crude mate¬ 
rials. It matters not, indeed, to Avhatever 
section of garden plants Ave turn, the same thing 
presents itself, and in a thousand ways almost 
lias the Avork of the florist served to bless and to 
beautify. Whilst Avishing, therefore, to give all 
honour to the plant introducer, the toiling 
botanical collector A\ T ho has so abundantly en¬ 
riched our Flora with many foreign productions, 
let us also reserve a place in the temple of garden 
fame for the patient, earnest men avIio have 
evolved for us and posterity so much beauty 
from the crude elements thus provided. 
->3=<—- 
GARDENING MISCELLANY. 
Royal Aquarium, Westminster. —We are 
requested to state that owing to an extension of the 
time for holding the exhibition of the Kennel Club in 
June, and also oiving to the whole of the building being 
required for the purpose, the great artistic Kose show, 
fixed for June 25th and 26th, is unavoidably withdrawn ; 
and from the same reason the Strawbeny show and 
fete, announced for July 2nd and 3rd, is postponed 
until July 9th and 10th. 
Presentation to a Gardener. —On his leaving 
Headfort Gardens, last Aveek, to take charge of those of 
Lord St. OsAvald, at Nostell Priory, Yorkshire, Mr. 
W. J. Ireland Avas presented with a gold Avateli by a 
few friends and felloAv employes at Headfort, as a small 
token of their esteem and regard. Returning thanks 
for the compliment paid him, Mr. Ireland said he should 
ahvays remember Avith feelings of pleasure the time he 
had spent in Ireland. 
National Chrysanthemum Society —A 
General Committee Meeting of this Society A\as held at 
the Old Four SA\-ans, Bishopsgate Street, on Monday 
last the 12th inst., the President, Mr. Sanderson, being 
in the chair ; amongst those present were Messrs. R. 
Ballantyne, E. C. Jukes, It. Dean, N. Davis, G. 
Stevens, G. S. Addison, J. Wright, and C. H. Payne. 
The Secretary, Mr. Holmes, stated that he had received 
applications from tAvo Chrysanthemum Societies to 
become affiliated Avith this Society, and it Avas resolved 
that the applications of the Dartford District Chrysan¬ 
themum Society, and the Henfield (Sussex) Chrysan¬ 
themum Society be accepted. Some correspondence 
Avhich had taken place between the Hon. Seeretarv and 
Mr. Fitzherbert upon the definition of the term “large 
flowering varieties, ” Avhich appeared in some schedules of 
Chrysanthemum Societies was read, and some discus¬ 
sion took place, from Avhich it appeared that the custom 
of the N. C. S. noAv is to include in the term large 
floAvers all varieties save Pompons. Twelve new mem¬ 
bers Avere elected at this meeting, thus bringing the 
roll up to 322. 
The Primula Conference.— As already stated 
the conference Avill be held on Wednesday, the 21st 
inst., in the Albert Hall. The chair will be taken at noon 
punctually by John T. D. Llewelyn, Esq., Penllergare, 
Swansea. The following papers Avill be read, and 
discussion invited thereon. The first in order is that 
by Mr. Shirley Hibberd, “ On the origin and history 
of the Florist Auricula.” Second, “In what direction 
should efforts be made AA*ith the view of improving the 
Florist’s flowers belonging to the genus Primula.” 
Mr. BarloAV has been unable to prepare a paper on this 
subject, but the Rev. F. D. Horner has kindly con¬ 
sented to take his place. Mr. J. G. Baker, of the 
Royal Herbarium, Kcav, will next discourse on “The 
nomenclature of the Alpine Primulas. ” While to Dr 
Masters has been committed the important subject of 
“Root structure and mode of growth as affording 
indications of the probable best culture.” 
Dutch Bulbs in America.— The Gold Medal 
offered by the Dutch Bulb groAvers for competition at 
the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s Exhibition, 
held on March 18th, Avas Avon by Messrs. D. Fergusson 
& Sons. The competition Avas for fifty varieties, and 
the winning spikes Avere described as being very good. 
The Guratorship of Kew Gardens.— We 
regret to hear that OAving to continued ill-health, Mr. 
John Smith has resigned his post as Curator of the 
Royal Gardens, KeAv, an appointment which he has 
held for tAventy-two years, with great credit to himself, 
and much to the advantage of the gardens under his 
charge. Mr. Smith it Avill be remembered was gardener 
to the Duke of Northumberland, at Syon House, at 
the time of his appointment to KeAv, Avhere he suc¬ 
ceeded another Mr. John Smith, the. eminent pteri- 
dologist, Avho is still among us. Before going to Kew, 
Mr. Smith proved himself a skilful culth’ator of 
tropical plants and fruits, and during his tenure of 
office as curator carried out many great improvements 
in the gardens. May his successor prove as amiable a 
man and as able a gardener. 
English Seeds at the Gape.— At the recent 
exhibition held at Port Elizabeth, South Africa, Messrs. 
James Carter & Co., of High Holborn, were aAvarded a 
silver medal for a stand Avhich a correspondent informs 
us Avas a very interesting exhibit, Avell worthy of this 
great firm, Avhich has attained a name in the colonies 
equal to that Avhich it bears at home. 
The Age of Seeds and Double Flowers — 
We have just come across an extract from a number of 
the American Agriculturist, in Avhich mention is made 
of fine specimens of Balsams produced from seed several 
years old. It is a kind of tradition of the seed trade 
that Balsam and Melon seeds Avill germinate Avhen 
several years old, and many old gardeners, and probably 
not a feAV younger ones, hold the opinion that the long- 
keeping of the seed is one secret of success, and in the 
case of the Balsam operates to produce double floAvers. 
We have heard old gardeners say that the best floAvers are 
on Balsams produced Avhen the seed is betAveen four and 
seven years old ; and it is also said that Stock seed and 
WallfloAver seed when tAvo years old aauJI produce better 
double floAvers than Avhen one year old onlv. Our 
American contemporary states “that the annuals may 
be treated in the very best manner, and that Avhen left 
for seeds, only a feAv seeds be alloAA-ed to remain on 
each plant ; that Avhen ripe and soavh, they may be 
put into the most fertile and best prepared ground, 
and yet they will certainly deteriorate from year to 
year AA'hen groAvn from seed of the preceding year. The 
reason is obvious, the double flower is a monstrosity— 
is a disease—the essential organs of the flower, those 
Avhich in the natural state of the plant should have 
produced the seed, are Avantif®, being converted into 
more protecting organs or leaA-es. But that mon¬ 
strosity is just Avhat Ave desire, and the best and surest 
way to continue it in perennial and biennial plants, is 
