May a, 1908. 
THE GARDENING WORLD , 
297 
= Propagating Double Primulas. = 
Double Primulas cannot be raised from 
seed, and therefore must be propagated 
from cuttings, which may either be treated 
in the ordinary manner or as follows. As 
soon as the old plants have ceased flower¬ 
ing the dead and dying leaves and also 
the leaves on the lower portion of the 
stems suitable for making into cuttings 
should be removed, and each growth se¬ 
lected for propagation gently pressed 
towards the edge of the pot until the stem 
cracks, care being taken not to break the 
stem in two and sever it from the plant, 
as this would render the growth useless 
for the purpose in view. When all the 
selected growths have been cracked in 
this way each should be fastened to and 
supported by a small stick in the manner 
shown in Fig. 1, which illustrates three 
growths treated in this manner. 
• Cover the bared and cracked stems with 
compost consisting of leaf mould, sand, 
and chopped sphagnum moss in equal 
parts, and place the pots in a shady part 
of the greenhouse and keep nicely moist. 
Roots will soon be emitted from the stems 
and each growth become a small plant 
as Fig. 2, when they should be carefully 
removed, this being best done by turning 
the old plant out of the pot, shaking off 
all the old soil and separating the young 
plants, care being taken not to break or 
injure the small roots. Three-inch pots 
will be quite large enough for the young 
plants, whilst compost consisting of two 
parts turfy loam, two parts leaf mould, 
one part dried cow manure and half a 
part of silver sand will be found quite 
suitable. 
Cuttings taken in the ordinary manner- 
should consist of young stems prepared 
as shown in Fig. 3, each being inserted in 
a small thumb pot of light sandy soil, 
which must be made quite firm, the cut¬ 
tings afterwards being . well watered in 
from a fine rosed can. As soon as the 
leaves of the cuttings are dry, the pots 
should be plunged in cocoanut fibre refuse 
in a close case or propagating frame with 
a temperature of from 60 to 70 degrees. 
Primula cuttings are very liable to damp 
off, and every care must be taken to pre¬ 
vent this, the glass covering the case 
being removed and wiped dry each morn¬ 
ing. The cuttings will take about three 
weeks to root, and as -soon as it is ap¬ 
parent that roots have been emitted, a 
little air should be given and the pots be 
lifted from the plunging material and 
stood upon it, the quantity of air being 
gradually increased until the glass is en¬ 
tirely removed and the cuttings or young 
plants fully exposed. 
A point to be observed in cultivating 
Primulas is that the double-flowered kinds 
require richer soil and a warmer tempera¬ 
ture than the single varieties. A mistake 
is frequently made when potting Pri¬ 
mulas, the plants being kept up above the 
soil as much as possible as shown in 
Fig. 4, with the object, no doubt, of pre¬ 
venting decay at the collar. This is 
wrong, the proper way being to pot the 
plants as shown in Fig. 5, each being 
placed in the soil so that the collar or 
neck is only just above the surface. Not 
only does this make the plant self-sup¬ 
porting, sticks to hold them up not being 
required, but growth becomes very robust 
and strong as fresh roots are emitted from 
the buried portion of the stems, whilst 
damping off seldom causes any trouble. 
“ Ortus. ” 
-- 
The Temple Flower Show. 
The biggest horticultural event of the 
year — the great Temple Gardens Flower 
Show of the Royal Horticultural Society 
— will take place on May 26, 27 and 28. 
Fellows’ personal passes, and transferable 
annual tickets will admit free at the fol¬ 
lowing times 'Tuesday 2b, from noon to 
7 p.m. ; Wednesday 27, from 7 a.m. to 
7 p.m. ; Thursday 28, from 9 a.m. to 6 
p.m. The public will be admitted by 
purchase of tickets from 12 to 7 p.m. on 
Tuesday'(tickets 10s.); from 12 to 7 p.m. 
on Wednesday (tickets 2s. 6d.); and from 
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, when the 
price of tickets will be is. Tickets may¬ 
be obtained beforehand at the offices of 
the R.H.S., Vincent Square, Westminster, 
or at the treasurer’s office, Inner Temple. 
Lieut. Charles Godfrey's Military Band 
will play each day on the lawn. This 
year’s show will, if the weather be pro¬ 
pitious, probably beat all previous re¬ 
cords both as regards number of exhibits 
and the attendance of the public. 
4 . s. 
Propagating and Potting Double Primulas. 
1, Growths prepared for -propagation or layering; 2, growth rooted, and ready for 
potting; 3, a prepared cutting; 4, the wrong way to pot Primula plants ; J, the 
right way. 
