May  5.  1898. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
393 
of  its  growth.  So  many  good  growers  have,  however,  expressed  their 
high  opinion  of  it  in  this  respect  that  I  think  we  may  hope  that  it  will 
prove  as  vigorous  as  the  variety  from  which  it  sported.  Mr.  Piper  of 
Uckfield  seems  to  have  found  Catherine  Mermet  sporting  in  the  same 
way  in  his  nursery  ;  and  this  has  occurred  with  other  Roses,  notably 
with  Souvenir  de  S.  A.  Prince.  Corinna  is  another  of  Messrs.  W.  Paul 
and  Son’s  acquisitions  to  which  I  think  justice  has  hardly  been  done  ; 
but  I  do  not  fancy  anyone  will  regret  having  it  in  his  collection.  The 
colour  is  flesh,  shaded  with  a  deeper  pink,  the  shape  being  semi-globular 
with  a  pointed  centre. — D.,  Beal. 
(To  be  continued.) 
NOTES  ON  ALPINE  FLOWERS. 
{Continued  from  page  328.) 
Primula  Species. 
By  this  conventional  name  are  designated  various  members  of  the 
genus  Primula,  which  have  not  come  under  recognition  as  florists’  flowers. 
Some  are  true  sjjecies  or  their  varieties  ;  others  are  natural  or  garden 
hybrids.  Nearly  all  are  of  much  beauty,  and  have  received  not 
undeserved  attention  from  many  growers  of  alpine  flowers.  At  this 
time  it  may  be  opportune  to  say  a  little  about  some  of  these  flowers, 
with  a  view  to  bringing  them  under  the  notice  of  those  interested  in  the 
plants  which  torm  the  general  subject  of  these  notes. 
Primula  denticulata. 
This  is  one  of  the  best  known  of  the  Primula  species,  although  less 
common  in  many  gardens  than  its  variety  or  sub-s])ecies  P.  cashmeriana. 
It  is,  perhaps,  less  variable  in  its  colouring  if  raised  from  seed  than  the 
latter,  but  this  is  not  to  be  regretted,  as  the  Toothed  Primrose  has 
flowers  of  a  more  refined  colouring  than  are  those  of  the  Cashmere 
variety.  It  was  introduced  from  the  Himalayas,  and  has  been  figured 
several  times.  It  is  difficult  to  render  in  words  the  soft  yet  bright 
colouring  of  P.  denticulata.  It  is  called  “  bright  lilac,”  and  as  one  cannot 
suggest  a  more  exact  description  that  must  stand  for  the  present.  The 
flowers  are  about  half  an  inch  across,  and  are  closely  arranged  in  a  round 
head  or  umbel.  It  grows  from  6  to  12  inches  high. 
It  is  recommended  that  it  should  be  grown  in  leaf  mould,  and  in  a 
moist  position.  The  writer  has  been  experimenting  with  this  Primula, 
and  finds  that  it  produces  finer  flowers  if  grown  in  a  well-drained  soil, 
which  is  dry  during  the  winter  months,  but  is  kept  m'^ist  in  spring  and 
summer.  P.  d.  pulcherrima  has  taller  stems,  larger  heads,  and  brighter 
flowers.  P.  d.  cashmeriana  has  the  under  surface  of  the  leaves  densely 
covered  with  a  gold  dust-like  meal.  There  are  also  white  varieties  of 
both.  P.  denticulata  and  its  varieties  can  be  increased  by'  division  or 
seeds.  It  comes  into  bloom  early  in  the  year  if  the  weather  is  mild. 
Primula  Palinuri. 
The  Palinuri  Primrose  comes  from  Southern  Italy,  but  is  quite  hardy 
on  well  drained  rockwork.  It  is  of  very  different  habit  and  colour 
from  the  preceding  species,  having  bright  yellow  flowers  arranged  in  a 
drooping  umbel.  It  comes  into  flower  in  April  and  May,  and  its  pretty 
bright  Uowers,  with  a  perfume  like  that  of  the  Cowslip,  and  its  bright, 
pale  green,  toothed  leaves  of  large  size,  make  it  a  very  attractive  plant. 
The  flower  scape  is  covered  with  white  powder.  It  may  be  increased 
by  division  or  seeds.  A  compost  of  sandy  peat  is  suitable  for  this 
Primrose  if  in  a  half-shady  situation,  with  a  moderate  supply  of  moisture 
in  summer. 
Primula  ijtvolucrata. 
This  Primula  from  the  North  of  India  is  a  general  favourite,  although 
there  are  many  more  brilliant  flowers  in  the  genus.  Its  beauty  consists 
more  in  the  quiet,  yet  pleasing  colour  of  its  creamy-white  flowers,  with 
their  yellow  eye,  than  in  the  more  gorgeous  hues  of  some  species  which 
attract  the  attention  at  once.  The  leaves  are  a  pretty  green,  and  the 
whole  plant  only  grows  6  or  8  inches  high.  It  is  with  us  a  bog  plant,  or 
at  least  one  which  requires  to  be  grown  in  sandy  peat  always  kept  moist. 
It  is  increased  by  seed  or  division,  and,  like  many  of  the  genus,  requires 
occasional  top-dressing  when  it  raises  itself  above  the  soil.  The  roots 
are  sometimes  disturbed  by  frost,  and  it  is  well  to  look  the  plants  over 
occasionally  to  see  if  they  need  top-dressing  or  pressing  down. 
Primula  minima. 
This  miniature  growing  plant,  known  as  the  Pairy  Primrose,  is  rather 
a  difficult  plant  to  grow.  In  this  respect  it  compares  unfavourably  with 
some  of  the  hybrids  of  which  it  is  one  of  the  parents.  A  good 
treatment  is  to  plant  in  well-drained  fissures  in  rockwork  in  rich  loam 
and  grit,  and  never  to  allow  it  to  become  dry  in  spring,  summer,  or 
autumn.  It  is,  perhaps,  the  smallest  of  the  species,  but  its  flowers  are 
very  large  in  proportion,  being  sometimes  an  inch  in  diameter.  They 
vary  from  pink  to  violet,  and  are  sometimes  almost  white.  The  leaves, 
toothed  at  the  top,  are  about  half  an  inch  across.  The  stock  may  be 
increased  by  careful  division. 
Primula  Steini. 
This  is  a  bright  and  attractive  Primula,  which  is  very  well  worth 
o-rowing,  and  gives  a  good  effect  to  the  portion  of  the  rock  garden  in 
which  it  grows.  It  is  said  to  be  a  hybrid  of  P.  minima  and  P.  hirsuta. 
It  is  not  difficult  to  grow  wedged  between  two  stones  on  moist,  half- 
shaded,  and  well-drained  rockwork.  The  flowers  are  bright  purple,  and 
are  produced  on  very  short  stalks.  The  leaves  are  what  are  known  as 
spathulate-obovate,  and  are  toothed.  This  Primula  is  very  pleasing  in 
every  way,  and  the  habit  is  so  dwarf  and  compact  as  to  make  it  suitable 
for  positions  where  larger  plants  would  be  out  of  place.  It  may  be 
increased  by  division. — Alpinus. 
(To  be  continued.) 
GOLDEN  PRIMROSE  JOHN  WILKINSON. 
I  AM  sending  for  your  inspection  and  opinion  a  yellow  Primrose.  In 
the  summer  of  1896  a  small  plaut  of  it  was  given  to  me  by  the  raiser,  the 
wife  of  a  gardener  in  our  neighbourhood.  From  that  one  plant  I  have 
now  in  front  of  my  window  nineteen  plants  in  glorious  bloom.  From  the 
plants  sent  you  will  be  able  to  judge  of  the  habit,  colour,  and  form  of  the 
flowers.  It  is  a  very  free  and  most  profuse  bloomer  ;  during  the  whole 
of  last  winter  it  was  never  without  flowers.  For  a  yellow  bed  in  spring 
I  have  not  seen  anything  to  equal  it ;  not  only  is  the  deep  yellow  colour 
so  telling,  but  the  form  of  pip  and  truss  gives  it  such  a  pleasing  and 
charming  appearance. — N.  N. 
[Two  plants  were  received  from  our  correspondent,  and  one  of  these 
we  sent  to  Mr.  S.  Arnott,  who  thus  writes  : — “  The  plant  sent  for 
inspection  is  a  fine  yellow  Polyanthus  of  bold  and  sturdy  habit,  and  with 
large  trusses  of  handsome  deep  yellow  flowers.  It  should  be  very 
effective  as  a  spring  bedder  or  planted  with  other  flowers.  If,  as  you 
say,  it  is  a  good  winter  bloomer,  its  value  is  much  increased,  and  the 
variety  should  be  largely  propagated.  Deep  yellow  Polyanthuses  of 
similar  shades  are  much  appreciated,  and  yours  is  much  darker  and  brighter 
than  the  majority.  The  flowers  are  well  formed,  but  pin-eyed  (which, 
however,  is  of  no  consequence  for  decorative  purposes),  and  borne  well 
above  the  foliage  on  remarkably  sturdy  stems.  We  have  recently  seen  a 
strain  of  exceptional  merit,  which  contains  a  few  flowers  of  nearly  equal 
merit.  These  were  the  result  of  many  years’  selection.”  We  have  also 
seen  effective  forms  of  yellow  bedding  Polyanthuses,  but  did  not  observe 
at  the  recent  show  of  the  National  Auricula  and  Primula  Society  one  in 
all  respects  so  good  in  its  way  as  the  golden  yellow  John  Wilkinson.] 
A  FRENCH  SEWAGE  FARM. 
A  LARGE  sewage  farm  has  been  laid  out  at  Achbres  for  purifying 
the  Paris  sewage  before  allowing  it  to  pass  into  the  river  Seme  The 
inhabitants  of  Paris  number  upwards  of  2,500,000,  and  the  total  flow  of 
sewage  is  stated  to  average  17,660,000  cubic,  feet  per  diem.  This  is 
collected  in  great  intercepting  sewers,  which  convey  it  by  gravitation 
down  to  Clichy,  where  it  is  raised  118  feet  by  powerful  pumps,  and 
distributed  by  gravitation  through  the  farm.  The  pumping  engines  at 
present  installed  are  capable  of  indicating  1200  horse  power  in  the 
aggregate,  but  future  additions  will  raise  this  to  6000.  It  is  stated  that 
experience  shows  that  1  acre  of  suitable  soil  can  take  1580  cubic  feet  of 
sewage  daily,  so  that  an  area  of  about  11,120  acres  would  be  needed  to 
deal  with  the  whole  of  the  discharge  of  the  Paris  sewers.  A  very  high 
degree  of  purification  is  reached,  the  effluent  proving  to  contain  fewer 
bacteria  per  cubic  centimetre  than  most  uncontaminated  streams.  The 
land  also  has  been  greatly  increased  in  value,  being  now  worth  five  times 
as  much  as  it  was  before  being  made  the  receptacle  for  the  sewage.  As 
a  natural  consequence,  says  a  contemporary,  neighbouring  landowners, 
who  originally  had  fiercely  opposed  the  establishment  of  a  sewage  farm  in 
their  midst,  are  now  claiming  to  have  the  sewage  supplied  to  their  own 
properties.  The  farm  at  Ach^res  is  2471  acres  in  extent,  and  is  under 
the  control  of  M.  Bona,  a  civil  engineer,  who  in  the  main  raises  Beetroot, 
though  this  crop  will  admit  of  much  less  sewage  being  passed  on  to  the 
land  than  certain  others.  The  main  conveying  the  sewage  from  the 
pumping  station  is  43’2  inches  in  diameter,  whilst  a  secondary  system  of 
pipes,  ranging  from  31  inches  to  16  inches  in  diameter,  serve  as  feeders  to 
the  irrigation  trenches,  into  which  the  sewage  passes  through  llj-inch 
valves.  The  ground  is  laid  out,  and  the  irrigation  trenches  are  so 
arranged  that  the  only  service  needed  in  regulating  the  flow  is  the 
opening  or  closing  of  the  regulating  valves  just  mentioned.  The  crop 
which  can  stand  the  most  sewage  is  grass,  a  meadow  being,  it  is  stated, 
uninjured  by  a  flow  of  2,430,000  cubic  feet  per  acre  per  year  ;  Lucerne 
can  take  1,790,000  cubic  feet  per  annum  ;  Artichokes,  593,000  cubic  feet 
per  annum  :  flowers,  Parsley,  and  Sorrel,  536,000  cubic  feet ;  Leeks, 
Cabbages,  and  Celery,  325,000  cubic  feet  per  annum  ;  whilst  Beetroots, 
Carrots,  and  Beans  will  take  only  197,000,  and  Potatoes,  Asparagus,  and 
Peas  but  141,000  cubic  feet  per  acre  per  year. 
Cinerarias. — In  addition  to  growing  one  or  two  of  the  best  of 
our  English  strains  of  Cinerarias,  I  have  also  taken  care  to  include  the 
red,  white,  and  blue  strains  sent  out  by  Vilmorin  &  Co.,  which  are  really 
admirable.  Of  late  years  much  improvement  has  been  manifested  in  the 
dwarf  habit  of  the  plants,  and  the  freer  blooming  and  finer  form  of 
flower,  and  their  earliness  in  flowering.  Purchased  separately  one  never 
gets  mixed,  every  plant  coming  true.  The  red  is  a  fine  bright  shade,  the 
white  too  is  excellent,  but  in  the  blue  every  conceivable  shade  can  be 
noted.  The  two  former  are  large  flowering,  and  the  latter  small, 
compact,  and  a  gem  for  cutting,  for  supplying  a  colour  for  conservatory 
decoration  that  we  too  often  lack.  To  those  who  cannot  accommodate 
the  three  varieties,  I  would  advise  the  latter  as  a  thorough  acquisition, 
certain  of  being  admired. — R.  P.  R. 
