.January 31, 1903. 
THE GARDENING WORLD . 
91 
wlien chilled water is wanted for use in any of the pits or 
frames. In addition to this, preparations have been made for 
the storage of 45,000 ft. of rain-water. Needless to say, no 
more economical nor advantageous method of storing soft 
water could have been devised. In a word, the whole of the 
appointments are up to date. 
Primulas at Reading. 
In company with a large number of the confraternity of 
pressmen, we paid a visit to the Trial Grounds for the purpose 
:—7 
Zygopetai.um leucochilum. 
of inspecting the Chinese Primulas, which are cultivated with 
the object of blooming at this particular period of the year. 
The quantity of plants is much greater than could have been 
accommodated at the Portland Road Nurseries, as something 
like 12,000 or 13,000 plants are being grown. 
All the ordinary and early-flowering strains were in perfec¬ 
tion on the occasion'of our visit on the 23rd inst., and, needless 
to say, a general view of each house has a most effective and 
charming appearance at this period of the year. The day 
being fine, the sky was surprisingly clear after the long period 
of gloom to which we had been getting accustomed in London. 
Siar Primulas, 
Arrived upon the grounds, we proceeded to the range. The 
new Star Primulas were the first to arrest our attention. 
White Star, the original type, could hardly be bettered in its 
own particular line, and consequently it constituted the start¬ 
ing point from which all other varieties have been evolved. 
The flowers are pure white, but the leaf-stalks and flower-stems 
are dark red, making a beautiful contrast. The graceful habit 
of the plant is also very artistic, decorative, and well adapted 
for various purposes best known to gardeners in private 
residences. 
White Queen Star has slightly larger flowers, but the leaf¬ 
stalks are paler, and the substance of the flower is somewhat 
better. There is already a Blue Star, though not yet in that 
state of perfection which will satisfy the raisers ; but amongst 
those varieties now in course of trial several other different, 
shades of blue are observable, so that it is only a question of 
time to develop a Blue Star that will take its place alongside 
the others. 
Carmine Star has flowers of a bright rosy carmine with 
red leaf-stalks, and is a veiy good variety of its colour. Prim¬ 
rose Queen may be described as in the process of evolution. 
The flowers are white, with a very large primrose eye, and we 
hope the day is not far’ distant when the yellow colour will 
extend all over the flower. The plant at present is of dwarf, 
compact habit. Pink Star retains the tall and graceful habit 
of the original, but the flowers are pink, so that it will make 
a bright and pleasing companion to the other varieties. The 
new variety named Stella Ruby, or Ruby Star, is, in our opinion, 
the finest of all Star Primulas, and not yet in eommerpe. It 
originated as a cross between Star Pink and the large flowering 
Crimson King. The flowers are of a brilliant carmine-crimson, 
and dazzling to the eye when the sun shines upon a mass of it ; 
it retains the true habit of the Star Primulas. Close by it is a 
v new variety under process of development; the colour is some¬ 
what difficult to describe, .being of a dark magenta, and quite 
different from the colour usually so named. This, however, 
cannot be put into commerce for some time yet. A semi¬ 
double in various colours has also made its appearance amongst 
the Star Primulas, but at present they are only under trial. 
Single Primulas. 
A variety named Cambridge Blue (Fern-leaved) is notable 
for the large size of its flowers and their soft, light blue colour ; 
perhaps some may like it darker, but a darker companion to 
it will probably soon be available, for dark blue varieties are 
already under observation. Rosy Queen (Fern-leaved) is a 
beautiful soft pink variety, with equally large flowers. Crim¬ 
son King is grown under two. forms of plants, the plain-leaved 
and the Fern-leaved, but in no other respect do they differ. 
They are striking varieties, on account of the glowing crimson 
or vermilion colour of their flowers. The foliage is dark, and 
shows the plant to be of strong constitution. Even these have 
been beaten, seeing that an Improved Crimson King is already 
a reality. Its flowers are much larger, and have a maroon 
zone in the centre. This improved form is likely in the course 
of a few years to displace the older Crimson King, although 
that is really of quite recent introduction. 
The Duchess is a novelty of the first water, the Powers 
being of the largest size, and white, with a deep rose centre, 
occasionally verging upon crimson. The half of one and part 
of another of the houses is already devoted to this novelty. 
The plant is of robust constitution, and more than came up 
to our expectations when we first saw it. An Award of Merit 
was granted it by the Royal Horticultural Society on January 
28th) 1902, which is a sufficient guarantee of its remarkable 
distinctness, nothing else like it having been seen in cultivation. 
The blue varieties are still maintained id their original 
