THE CULTURE OF ALPINE PLANTS. 
ing spring ornament of every garden border. The same remark is applicable to the Polyanthus, the 
origin of which is traced to the common wild Primrose of our woods (P. vulgaris'), which has likewise 
given birth to a race of most beautiful “ double Primroses.” P. sinensis , in its numerous varieties, is 
one of the very best winter-flowering green-house plants that we possess; and long as it has been 
universally cultivated, its claims to attention are now coming more prominently into notice than they 
ever did before. It is the Alpine Primulas, however, that now merit our attention. 
As in the case of many other plants, the gradual increase in the number and variety of this family, 
by successive introductions of new species, has led to a corresponding extension of the taste for their 
cultivation—so much so, that in some parts of the country we now find the Alpine Primulas no longer 
intermixed with miscellaneous collections of Alpine plants, but occupying a separate frame specially 
devoted to themselves. This is the way in which they ought to be treated to be grown satisfactorily; 
they form a most interesting collection, and present a gay appearance at an early season of the year, 
when gardens in general are bleak and barren, while the different species exhibit sufficient diversity, 
both in their foliage and flowers, to give the collection a most agreeable and refreshing variety of 
character, such as is unknown in many families of cultivated plants. 
The frame for Alpine Primulas ought to be so placed, in regard to aspect, that the plants may freely 
obtain the benefit of the morning sun, but be completely sheltered from the scorching rays of afternoon. 
The treatment of stage Auriculas is, in many points, applicable to the culture of Primulas in general, 
which should occupy a cold shady situation throughout the hot season, and be carefully tended in 
regard to watering. 
Whatever may be the merits or demerits of the “ one-shift system,” as a general system of culture, 
we regard it as a good rule of guidance in the treatment of Alpine plants; few of these succeed well 
if their roots are much interfered with, and frequent re-potting is therefore to be avoided, if strong, 
healthy, well-established plants are desired. The re-potting of Primulas (when necessary) may be 
done in the autumn, but a systematic yearly re-potting is by no means desirable. They succeed well 
in good maiden loam, with a small addition of very well decomposed leaf mould, and a little sand, if 
necessary, to give lightness and porosity to the other materials. Primulas, in general, like strong soil, 
but some of them will even succeed in very sandy soil, the plants, however, becoming weak. 
Primulas are not fastidious in cultivation; soil is a matter of less consequence than may at first 
thought appear. The true secret of their successful culture is only to be obtained by a careful study of 
their habits; and a knowledge of the natural history of those species which grow wild in our own 
woods and pastures will afford important aid in the acquisition of this kind of knowledge. 
The plants should be removed to the frame before the approach of winter, the pots being plunged 
in sand or some other porous material which affords facility of drainage, as perhaps nothing is more 
injurious to this family, in general, than a superfluity of water, to which cause alone the majority of 
cases of failure in their culture may be traced. Whenever the weather is mild, at whatever season, 
the sashes ought to be thrown off. In watering the plants after a day of heat and drought, it will be 
found advantageous to keep the sashes on for the night in order that the plants may benefit by the 
humidity, but where they are removed to a cool shaded situation for summer quarters, this will of 
course be unnecessary. Dry and bitter winds, as well as sudden changes to a low temperature, ought 
to be jealously guarded against by closing the sashes, especially during the spring season, when they 
are frequent, and when the plants are in a flowering condition. 
Attention to the progressive development * of the plants, and the suiting of their circumstances 
thereto in the different stages, will be found to be the successful mode of treating the Alpine Primulas, 
as it is with Alpine plants in general. We therefore enter into no minute detail of seasonal operations, 
as these must be guided in a great measure by circumstances, which will vary in the case of each 
grower. Winter is a trying time for some of the species; keep them drier than Alpine plants are 
generally kept at that season, and as they often die down to the ground, do not throw out the pots, for 
their roots still retain life, and will push forth new and vigorous shoots on the return of spring. 
* The term is not used in the “ Vestigian ” sense. 
