PRI 
PUL 
above the orifice of the tube, and is 
held to be quite fatal to the character of 
the flower, without regard to its other 
qualities. The next defect to be looked 
for is ail unevenness of colour; a tinge 
of red in the yellow of the ground or 
lacing is termed a “ foxiness, 55 and is 
equally objectionable ; when, therefore, 
these and all others having an irregular 
outline, or are deficient of correct lacing, 
which is the yellow band round the mar¬ 
gin of each segment of the flower, and 
according to the rules by which they are 
judged, it must be of equal width and 
brilliancy in every part, and continued 
down to the centre or eye; when all 
these are without hesitation consigned to 
the borders, in the majority of cases the 
florist will find those which remain are not 
likely to cause much trouble, unless it be 
a few which have refused him a chance of 
condemning by withholding their flowers. 
Puimrose, Oxlip, Cowslip, and the 
double varieties of each, are to be re¬ 
garded only as ornaments to the flower 
garden, and as such do not require a 
lengthened notice : they prefer a shaded 
situation, with loamy soil, and should 
have plenty of water in dry weather. 
The double purple, white, and lilac va¬ 
rieties of the former are very handsome, 
and may be grown in pots as an assist¬ 
ance to the forced flowers in spring: 
these are increased by offsets, while the 
single ones are easily multiplied by seed, 
which they produce in abundance. There 
is another highly deserving member of 
the genus deserving to be particularly 
noticed, the Primula sinensis , or Chi¬ 
nese primrose; so justly and universally 
esteemed is this little plant for its preco¬ 
city and abundant habit of blooming, 
that it would be a rare circumstance to 
find any collection without it. The best 
time to sow the seed of this charming 
species is about Midsummer; the young 
plants have then time to establish them¬ 
selves before the set-in of winter, and 
by being encouraged in a cold frame 
through the autumn, will attain a size 
quite enough to be considered hand¬ 
some, without the naked scraggy appear¬ 
ance of older plants. They delight in a 
mixture of two parts leaf-mould, one of 
loam, and one of silver sand. Seed is 
generally rather difficult to procure, and 
that from fine varieties bears a high va¬ 
lue. In order, therefore, to induce the 
plants to bear it freely, let them stand 
in a full exposure to the sun all through 
the summer, or until sufficient is ob¬ 
tained. An upper shelf in the green¬ 
house will be found the best for them, 
though it will be necessary to keep them 
well supplied with water in such a posi¬ 
tion, or the sun would speedily destroy 
them. The double varieties of this 
flower are very beautiful, and require 
the same management. Besides those 
mentioned there are yet several species 
deserving attention, and should always 
be included in the list of alpine plants, 
particularly such as cortusioides, fari- 
nosci, Pallassii, Scotica, and Simsii: all 
these grow freely in a soil similar to 
that recommended for the Chinese prim¬ 
rose, and require the usual management 
of plants of the same description, namely, 
to be kept in a shaded place in the 
open air through the summer, and to 
have the protection of a frame through 
the winter. They all bloom at an early 
season, when flowers of any kind are 
valued, and being really beautiful in 
themselves, deserve all the attention ne¬ 
cessary to grow them successfully. 
PRI SMATO CARPUS (L’Heritier,) 
Nat. Ord. Campanulacece. Pretty dwarf 
plants, which may either be treated as 
the last division of the preceding article, 
or as half-hardy annuals; their flowers 
are either blue or white. 
PROMiENEA (Bindley) Nat. Ord. 
OrcJiidaceee. A small genus of extremely 
curious little epiphytes, requiring much 
the same treatment as By caste. P. Pol- 
lisonii, P. stajpelioides, and P. xanthina 
are very beautiful. 
PULMONABIA (Linn.) Nat. Ord. 
Boraginacece. Showy border plants, with 
flowers of various shades of blue; they 
grow freely in any rich soil. 
PULTENiEA (Smith.) Nat. Order 
Leguminosae. Pretty, free flowering, green¬ 
house plants, requiring the treatment 
usual for the New Holland section, and 
in addition, should have their branches 
pruned closely back after flowering, and 
