April 16, 1892. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
519 
HARDY PRIMULAS. 
The various species of Primula contribute not a 
little to the ornamentation and interest attached to 
a garden in spring. The early-flowering kinds being 
of a dwarf habit, they may properly be considered 
as rock plants, and if planted in suitably moist and 
somewhat shady positions, in the case of those that 
require it, they may be expected to succeed, and to 
prove an ever-recurring source of pleasure each re¬ 
turning spring. A good body of soil is necessary in 
order that the supply of moisture from below may 
not fail during the drought of summer ; and if it is 
intended to plant any of them in narrow pockets 
amongst stones the soil in the pocket should be con¬ 
tinuous with the body of soil below. The more 
leathery leaved kinds do very well even under full 
exposure to the sun provided the opportunity of ob¬ 
taining moisture is ample. Many of the under¬ 
mentioned kinds may be seen on the rockery in the 
nursery of Mr. T. S. Ware, Hale Farm Nurseries, 
Tottenham, but the bulk constituting the stock are 
grown in cold frames, which are just sufficient to 
throw off the wet in winter. The shelter thus afforded 
has also the effect of bringing the plants earlier into 
bloom than would be the case in the open. 
Primula Clusiana. —The flowers of this species 
are amongst the largest of the European kinds. The 
corolla is of a rosy-purple with deeply bifid seg¬ 
ments, and from three to eight of these are produced 
on scapes 2 in. to 3 in. high. The leaves are elliptic, 
rather leathery, smooth, and of a deep shining green. 
It is a native of the Tyrol, and flowers naturally in 
April and May, being later than usual as far as out¬ 
door plants are concerned. 
P. calycina. —At first sight this bears a strong 
resemblance to the last both in habit and flowers, but 
the differences are readily discernible to the obser¬ 
vant. The leaves are oblanceolate-elliptic, dark 
green, and of the same leathery character as those 
of the last named. The flowers are of large size, of 
a deep purple, and borne in umbels of five to twelve. 
They differ from those of P. Clusiana in the broad 
segments being merely emarginate and dentate on the 
margin, instead of being deeply bifid with diverging 
lobes. It is equally beautiful as its congener, and as 
hardy. The leaves have a slightly glaucous hue, 
and the plant is known in some gardens under the 
name of P. glaucescens. 
P. marginata. —The specific name in this case 
refers to the thick coating of a sulphur yellow powder 
all round the margin of the leaves, which are obovate 
or sometimes spathulate, serrate and often thinly 
powdery on the upper surface. The flowers are 
lilac-purple in the type, but they vary considerably 
tending towards a shade of blue in the variety P. m. 
caerulea. They are also agreeably fragrant, which 
is an additional recommendation. Mr. Ware has a 
large quantity of it in stock, and has made a selection 
of a sort or variety which is much larger in all its 
parts than the type. If it proves a stronger grower 
than the better known form, it will prove invaluable 
for cultivation on the rockery. 
P. Auricula. —The wild form of this plant bears 
small flowers, and would be ignored as rubbish by 
those who believe only in the highly improved show 
and Alpine kinds ; but to the lover of hardy flowers 
in general it is both pretty and interesting. The 
flowers vary considerably in being creamy-yellow, 
creamy-white, sulphur and deep yellow. The paste 
is not very plentiful, but consists of a thin powder 
around the mouth of the tube. The leaves themselves 
are more or less mealy. In the same frame is a beauti¬ 
ful variety named P. A. marginata, with the margin 
coated with a sulphur-yellow powder as in the case 
of the species P. marginata. Both surfaces of the 
leaves are also more thinly dusted with powder. 
The flowers are large, and bright yellow with a 
prominent ring of paste round the eye, and they are 
also agreeably fragrant. 
P. viscosa. —The leaves of this species are small, 
obovate, toothed and arranged in a dense rosette, 
from which the dense umbel of flowers rises only an 
inch or two in height. The flowers in the type are 
of a deep purple with a white eye. The white variety 
P. v. nivalis, with snowy white flowers, is even 
regarded with greater favour than the type. In 
cultivation it proves very hardy and flowers year 
after year in the same position, if slightly shaded 
from the midday sun so as to keep it cool. 
P. longiflora. —-The flowers of this Primula are 
of a deep purple with obversely heart-shaped 
segments, and are thinly mealy in the throat. The 
leaves are oblanceolate, crenate and of a dull green 
or thinly mealy, but they are always much longer 
than those of P. viscosa, and appear less compactly 
arranged. 
P. ciliata. —The flowers of this species are small 
and bright yellow, while the leaves are obovate, 
crenate, and somewhat mealy. In its native home 
on the Alps it grows under the shade of rocks, so 
that a similar position would suit it here. 
P. elatior ccerulea.— This is generally known 
as the Blue Oxlip. It is an old garden form that 
might be more widely cultivated than it is, on account 
of its distinct and attractive appearance. The 
flowers are large, salver shaped, and of a deep slaty- 
blue, margined or laced with creamy-white, and 
having a five-lobed orange eye, surrounded by a 
pale yellow line next the blue. The blue is usually 
pretty well defined and very distinct amongst the 
garden forms of Polyanthus. Propagation is readily 
effected by means of cuttings of the short, fleshy 
rhizome or by division of the crowns ; but the former 
is the speediest means of increase when numbers are 
required. It should be planted in good sized patches 
to obtain the best effect. 
P. rosea.— Of all the Himalayan species this is 
the most universal favourite, a fact that may be 
accounted for by the ease with which it may be 
grown and the beauty of its warm or rich rose- 
coloured flowers. Here it is grown in quantity, and 
when so planted it is very effective. Seeds are 
ripened in great abundance, and germinate very 
freely. It does not seem that this quality has been 
properly taken advantage of in raising new varieties, 
or of propagating it extensively for the ornamenta¬ 
tion of the rockery or garden. It should always be 
planted in a moist position, so that it may be able to 
make good foliage after flowering is over and during 
the heat of summer. 
NOTES ON PEAS. 
Many growers I understand anticipate considerable 
failures this season among the Pea crops. Now, as one 
of the oldest Pea growers as a gardener—my experience, 
dating back to the time when the Messrs. Cormack, 
of New Cross, were in an extensive way of business, 
in fact, one of the largest firms in this country, who 
made Peas a speciality—I may be allowed a few 
words on the subject. More than fifty years ago the 
Messrs. Cormack purchased from Mr. J. D. Parks 
(with whom in my early days I lived, and whose 
name is associated with the early introduction of the 
Chrysanthemum), a variety said to be the earliest 
in cultivation, and which was sent out as Early May, 
and I aver, without fear of contradiction, that, 
although so many new or supposed new kinds have 
since been brought out, that not one of them has in 
any way proved earlier or more prolific than the one 
in question. Cormacks introduced just subsequent 
to this time other kinds, notably the famous old 
British Queen, one of the best Peas ever placed before 
the most fastidious epicurean ; Champion of England, 
sent out by Fairbeard soon after, remains now one 
of the very best that can be grown, if obtained true 
to name. 
Gardeners of the olden times were as good kitchen 
gardeners as now, and produced crops of Peas in 
their time which I have never seen surpassed. About 
twenty years ago I raised one which I would not ex¬ 
change for any sort at the present time in cultiva¬ 
tion, not that I have any wish or desire to insinuate 
that it is better than many well known sorts. 
A lengthened experience has taught us much with 
reference to failures and vexatious disappointments. 
Some of these may be under control and some not. 
Of the elements we have no control whatever, hence 
the uncertainty of crops sown in the open ground 
in some soils and situations. The round early kinds 
as a rule survive our ordinary wintry weather, but 
the wrinkled sorts are more tender and susceptible 
to extremes of wet and cold, and to obviate failures 
it is, I may say, absolutely necessary to secure new 
seed entirely, without any admixture of old seed, for 
in very many instances it is the fact of old seed 
being sown that is the cause of failures, and not the 
unpropitious weather, which frequently gets the 
blame. It is sometimes attended with very 
disastrous consequences when the unfortunate 
gardener does not get his crops to grow, and places 
him ofttimes in a very perilous position, because it 
is not always understood by his employer what the 
real conditions are. He, the gardener, is supposed 
to succeed and have no failures; thus to him it is of 
paramount importance that he should be supplied 
with new and true seed. 
I saved last year a prime lot of the Prince 
Imperial for my own use, and although sown in a 
very cold aspect in the open and inclining to the 
east, upon examination I find them in a very satis¬ 
factory condition indeed. I have also Abundance, 
the seed of which I saved last season, which is 
breaking through the ground in admirable condition, 
very strong and healthy, growing in the same spot as 
last year but with the rows reversed. Again, I have 
two seedlings from my Prince Imperial saved last 
summer, one of especial promise so far as I can 
judge up to the present time; these are all that can be 
wished. What would be expected should a decrepit 
army be sent to oppose one of nerve and robust 
health ? In the animal as well as the vegetable 
kingdom, debilitated forms must be placed in the 
same category as being conducive alike to signal 
failures and disastrous results. In all phases in life 
if we wish to succeed we must sow perfect seed to 
bring our labours to a happy issue .—Man of Kent. 
-- 
EARTHQUAKES AND 
VEGETATION. 
We find the following paragraph going the round:— 
*' The effects of earthquakes on vegetation have been 
investigated by Signor A. Goiran, in the case of the 
seismic disturbances which occurred last June 
throughout Northern Italy. He found in this 
instance the uniform result to be to induce a more 
rapid germination of seeds, and a more rapid growth 
of the young plants, giving rise to a more luxuriant 
vegetation in the pastures, arable lands, vineyards, 
and shrubberies, accompanied by an unusually deep 
green colour of the leaves. These results he believes 
to be due, not to the direct influence of the tremor, 
but to three secondary causes, viz. (1) an increased 
production of carbon dioxide; (2) a diffusion of 
nutrient fluids through the soil, acting as a kind of 
natural manuring ; (3) an increased production of 
electricity. In other instances earthquakes have 
apparently had an unfavourable influence on vege¬ 
tation ; but this Signor Goiran believes to be due to 
their having been associated with a long period of 
drought." 
Now here is an excellent opening for some enter¬ 
prising horticulturist or horticultural company pro¬ 
moter. Seeds are in many cases germinating badly, 
mainly owing no doubt to the cold and wet character 
of last season, and the nipping east winds and dry 
character of March and the early days of April. 
What then is wanted at the present moment is a 
supply of earthquakes. Who will start upon the 
business? The nursery business is especially just 
now undergoing marked changes, and the cry is, 
Who will show us any good thing ? Let some enter¬ 
prising horticulturist at once open a depot in 
London for a supply of earthquakes with branches 
in all our great cities and towns. Who knows what 
an amount of business there is to be done in this 
way, or what fortunes there are to be made by- 
securing royalties on earthquakes at per cubic yard l 
- * 5 -- 
ROCK PLANTS- 
Many plants are well suited for cultivation on 
rockeries, and which are not in any sense of the 
term Alpine plants. In lowland districts, where 
rockeries are constructed for the growth of dwarf- 
habited plants, those coming from flat or but slightly 
elevated positions often succeed better than those 
that are purely of Alpine habitat. The natural con¬ 
ditions are more nearly conformable to their likings, 
and if shady and sunny places respectively are 
selected for those that affect such places and con¬ 
ditions in a state of nature, the cultivator often 
succeeds better than with the more fastidious 
Alpines. The latter may be grown if the lover of 
hardy plants so desires ; but in order to render the 
rockery as effective as possible, the showier and* 
easier grown kinds should be planted in masses in, 
prominent positions for general effect. The under-, 
mentioned kinds include those now in bloom 
although several of them are much behind their 
usual time owing to the long-continued cold weather 
during February and March. 
Saxifraga oppositifolia. —The stems of this 
truly Alpine species are procumbent, densely covered 
with leaves imbricated in four rows, and form a 
close carpet covering the ground. The bright purple 
flowers are produced singly on short shoots that only- 
