May 1904. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
399 
twenty-five years ago a Primula was very frequent, in cultiva- 
tion under the name of P. altaica. This was an advance on 
fibthorpii, with lilac flowers, and occasionally threw up its 
jomnion flower-stalk. This was the origin of the blue Prim¬ 
rose so highly developed 'by the late Mr. G-. F. Wilson in his 
garden at Wisley. 
Quite a giant in its way is the large. Primrose Evelyn Ark¬ 
wright, which differs from the common Primrose only by its 
ize. A beautiful crimson-red Primrose is that named Uecil 
Rhodes; the segments of it are laced with white. Other 
species coming under our notice wereP. rosea, P. r. grandiflora, 
P. denticulata, P. d. alba, and others. Some interesting 
varieties of border Auriculas were named Yellow Dusty Miller 
md Reef Dusty Miller respectively, which were* the pride of our 
rrandmothers’ gardens, and appealed to the sense of smell as. 
yell as the eye by their quaint and beautiful scented flowers. 
Very highly developed, but a hardy form, was that named 
Mrs. Davis, with flat, yellow flowers and a band of paste. 
On the banks of the stream, running through the nursery, 
he single and double forms of Caltha palustris were highly 
effective, and indicating what might, be done on many estates 
laving streams running through the grounds, or sheets of orna- 
nental water, at the edge of which the Calthas revel and 
>loom abundantly. 
Several flowering shrubs are planted about, the higher part 
if the rockeries, and serve to give: shelter to the same while 
beautifying them. Very prominent was a mass of Cytisus 
praecox with its pale yellow flowers. Magnolia, stellata, on the 
north side of a hedge, was also flowering late. Of several 
varieties of Pvrus, very fine was Pvrus japonica Simonii. This 
is comparatively new, having reached this nursery in 1900. 
Die flowers are of a brilliant crimson-scarlet, and 1 in. to 
lj in. across when fully expanded. 
The Herbaceous Borders. 
Plants in Bloom. 
Hertensia pnlmonarioides. 
The species of Pulmonaria usually commence flowering in 
idvan.ee of the Mertensias, though this may be regarded as an 
:a.rly one among its kind. The fully-expanded flowers, somet¬ 
imes get injured by frosty nights, but the remaining flowers 
lsually restore the beauty of the plant when they expand. 
H first they are delicately tinted with pink, but afterwards 
flange to a beautiful sky blue. The large ovate leaves are 
mooth and of a soft, glaucous hue—a character which is very 
frequent, amongst the. Mertensias, including the Oyster Plant. 
This is not at all particular as to soil, but, owing to its habit 
>f early growth and flowering, a. sheltered spot should be 
■elected for it when planting it on the border. Usually it 
ncreases freely enough, so that young plants can be obtained 
by the division of the root stock just, as the plant is commemc- 
ng to make fresh growth. 
1 amine ulus ac nitifolius. 
The numerous species of Crowfoot assume all sorts of forms, 
md the leaves of this species may be said to resemble an 
Vconite. The foliage also resembles the Trollius. The 
i lowers are white, and in that respect are very different from 
he more common species of Crowfoot, though there are several 
fibers that have equally pure white flowers. The latter are 
very moderate in size in this plant, so> that I should recoui- 
nend planting the double form (R. a. flore pleno) whenever 
: t is obtainable, as the flowers are not only more effective, but 
hey last longer. In selecting a position for this plant a moist 
oil is desirable. It is one of those plants which succeed in 
he north without, any trouble on the part of the cultivator 
imply because the climatic conditions are more in its favour 
han in the south or east of England. Where the plant thrives 
eadily there is no difficulty in propagating it by division early 
n spring. 
)oronicum*plantagineum exce’sum. 
Several species of the Leopard’s Bane find favour with culti¬ 
vators on account of their early flowering. Though not the 
earliest to bloom, this is one of the showiest and most per¬ 
sistent bloomers. It is not surprising, therefore, to find that 
it is making headway in gardens of all sizes. The plant is of 
easy cultivation, and has already been, in bloom for some time. 
Those who wish their plants to flower late in the season should 
allow them plenty of room for expansion, as the young shoots 
keep up a supply of bloom till late in the autumn. This, how- 
over, depends; to some extent on the climatic conditions which 
favour growth. We 'sometimes hear of it reaching a great 
height in the warm, moist districts near the sea, but the average 
height, does not much exceed 18 in. or 2 ft., the plant being 
dwarfer in spring than, later on. The cultivator can also; en¬ 
courage growth and flowering by the. frequent renewal of the 
clumps. Every year, or every second year, the plants may be 
lifted, divided, and, after well digging and enriching the soil, 
planting young pieces to take the place of old. 
Fritillaria Imperialis. 
The rapidity with which this plant throws up its stems, 
battling against unfavourable weather during March and April, 
is remarkable, and always serve® to> interest, plant lovers at 
that season of the year. When in full bloom it is certainly 
handsome. The chief complaint against it. is that the leaves 
and stems die down early, leaving a big blank in the garden 
where it existed. That may be overcome by planting some¬ 
thing of an annual character in a line with the stems just 
before they have sufficiently dried up to let them be cut. down. 
These annual plants then grow away rapidly, and occupy the 
space left by the cutting of the Crown Imperial. Those who 
dislike the brownish-red colour of the common form should 
plant F. I. lutea, which has bright yellow flowers as large as the 
red, while the plant is just as easily’cultivated. The bulbs do 
not like frequent disturbance of the roots, so that they should 
be allowed to occupy the same position until getting over¬ 
crowded. Recently a variety of the Crown Imperial was 
brought before the public named F. I. inodora, which has bright 
brick-red flowers of a much more lively colour than the type. 
The special feature of this variety, however, is that the flowers 
are not disagreeably scented like the common Crown Imperial. 
Camassia Cusickii. 
Owing to the rampant growth of this bulbous plant, it might 
be described as the most bulky species of Quamash. It is also 
the earliest, to' come into bloom, and is notable; for the rapidity 
with which it develops its long racemes of pale blue flowers. 
The bulbs should be planted in a friable; and rather deep soil. 
A little shelter is also desirable to protect the bulky; glaucous 
leaves from the effects of wind early in the season. 
Geum Heldreichii superbum. 
The rich orange flowers of the above variety are very bright 
and cheerful at this period of the year, the plant being amongst 
the earliest of its kind to come into bloom. The leaves are 
pinnate, somewhat similar to those of G. cbiloense, and the 
stems vary from 12 in. to 18 in., according to the period of 
the year and the amount of rainfall. Although it commences 
to bloom thus early, young plants continue to flower through 
the greater part of summer, and for this reason it would make 
a useful subject for planting in beds on the grass, as well 
as in the herbaceous border. The plant is of easy propaga¬ 
tion, if lifted and the crowns separated with or without roots. 
Those pieces which have no roots should be inserted in sandy 
soil and placed under a handlight, where they will soon develop 
roots. 
Tulipi Didierb 
The above species of Tulip is closely allied to T. gesneriana, 
but. although a. native of Savoy and other parts of South Europe, 
it was only introduced to cultivation about- twenty-two years 
ago. Since then several very beautiful varieties have been 
discovered and put into; commerce, but they differ chiefly in 
colour. The typical form has vermilion: flowers, with a. very 
handsome black blotch, surrounded by the pale yellow band at 
the base of each segment. As a species this may be said to 
differ from T. gesneriana, by having the outer segments acute 
instead of rounded. This gives a pleasing variation from the 
ordinary garden Tulip, and this form is particularly evident 
