tub gardening world. 
£47 
March 21, 1903. 
Primula obconica grandiflora. 
When introduced in 1882 from Central China the above 
species of Primula was neither very conspicuous nor showy, 
although interesting enough. Knowing what had already been 
done with several of the Primulas, growers who first made their 
acquaintance with it had an idea that it could be turned to 
useful account by hybridising and cross-breeding. Hybridists 
have hitherto, however, been entirely disappointed in their 
attempts to cross this with any other species of Primula from 
China or otherwise. Nevertheless, improvements have gone on 
apace within the last twenty years or so, purely by the method 
of intercrossing the varieties and selecting the best of the seed¬ 
lings. 
When it first made its appearance at Kew it flowered freely 
enough, and then passed out of bloom ; but in those days it 
always at hand to fill up any vacancies that may occur between 
the flowering of any other two classes of plants which may be 
grown for the purpose. 
The improvements hitherto effected have been entirely along 
the lines of seed-sowing and selection ; and bearing in mind 
the case of the Chinese Primula proper (P. sinensis), it may 
be that cultivators will never succeed in hybridising this 
species, but. that need not prevent the species from becoming 
—as, in fact, it is.—one of the most useful and decorative of 
garden Primulas. Cross-breeding of varieties and the selection 
of the finer forms are likely to continue, as at present, improv¬ 
ing the species for decorative purposes. By this means alone 
the plant, may be brought to. much greater perfection than we 
could at present imagine. 
A short time ago we recorded a semi-double variety which 
will probably prove the forerunner of a useful strain of double 
Peixiula obconica grandifloea in Koupell Park Nurseries. 
was relegated to the hardy herbaceous department, and simply 
accorded the treatment which those plants have which flower 
regularly at their appointed time. Those pioneers whip first 
conceived the idea of placing the plant in a genial temperature 
deserve well of the horticultural community in general; for 
they practically showed the capabilities in the new arrival 
which would scarcely have been dreamed of by treating the 
plant as a hardy or half-hardy perennial. 
The genial heat of a greenhouse or conservatory intended 
for keeping a display of flowers had the effect of stimulating 
growth, with the result that a continual succession of bloom was 
kept up while the plant continued growing. With a batch or 
two of plants kept under different conditions and brought on 
in succession, successive batches in full perfection may be had 
at every period of the year. The utility of such plants for 
conservatory decoration cannot be over-rated, because they are 
varieties that could be increased and perpetuated from seeds. 
We have greater admiration, however, for the single flowers 
in the genus generally, and think that a great future is yet 
before P. obconica as a decorative plant simply for the sake-of 
its large finely-formed flowers and many beautiful colours. 
There seems no reason why we should not get as many varieties 
and rich colours as we already have, in P. sinensis. 
Our illustration represents a houseful of plants of this very 
free flowering species grown by Messrs. John Peed & Son, 
Roupell Park Nurseries, W. Norwood, who have been giving it 
a. considerable amount of attention, with the object of improving 
the flower and turning it to useful account in their floral work. 
The varietal name P. o. grandiflora refers to the size of the 
flowers, but the improvement effected upon the original can 
only be realised by comparison with the small, starry flowers 
of the type fast being ousted by improved forms. 
