March  2,  1899. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER,  IG:? 
each  haring  a  disc  of  pale  sulphur.  The  trusses  are  carried  well  above  the 
foliage,  and  the  effect  of  a  house  of  plants  in  lull  bloom  is  most  striking. 
Continuing  with  the  light  coloured  forms,  it  will  be  equally  true  to  say  that 
the  position  enjoyed  by  Purity  in  the  whites  is  followed  closely,  if  not 
surpassed,  in  the  tinted  varieties  by  Modesty,  which  magnificent  variety 
opens  white,  but  when  fully  expanded  gradually  deepens  into  a  pleasing 
and  delicate  pink  or  flesh  colour.  The  habit  of  the  plant  is  superb,  dwarf, 
sturdy,  with  Perr-leaf  foliage  of  a  beautiful  green.  The  crimped  flow'ers 
are  of  great  size  an  I  substance,  and  are  produced  in  profusion  on  stout 
stems.  It  is  an  exquisite  variety,  which  visitors  are  not  slow  in  appre¬ 
ciating.  The  flowers  keep  well,  and  for  this  reason  should  prove 
invaluable  for  table  decoration. 
Another  rcsy  lin  ed  variety  finds  an  appropriate  name  in  Rosy  Morn. 
It  is  of  the  plain-leaved  section,  with  somewhat  deeper  coloured  flowers 
than  the  preceding.  This  elegantly  fimbriated  Primula  must  become 
popular.  The  colour  is  novel,  carmine  rose,  deepening  several  shades 
ducing  spikes  continuously,  and  these  lengthen  into  whorls  of  flowers, 
until  the  plant  assumes  a  pyramidal  shape.  To  those  seeking  a  unique 
colour  Eclipse  will  appeal  very  strongly,  for  whether  grown  in  quantity 
as  at  W^  ^d8ley.  or  singlyq  the  purplish  crimson  flower  is  sure  to  gain 
]  attention  and  admiration.  Careful  selection  and  the  weeding  out  of  rogues 
assiduously  persisted  in,  has  brought  a  Primula  worthy  of  the  name  it 
bears.  The  yellow  disc  in  the  centre  is  well  defined,  and  the  bold  flowers 
are  heavily  fringed,  which  render  the  variety  very  useful  and  quite 
indispensable  where  shades  of  crimson  are  favoured.  The  growth  is  dwaif 
and  compact,  and  with  the  dark  red  foliage  belovy  and  goo  ly  trusses  of 
flowers  above,  is  a  variety  of  which  everyone  must  make  note, 
I  Of  the  blues,  Webbs’  new  Blue  Belle  is  no  washed-out  apology,  or  a 
pale  blue  even,  but  a  blue  pure  and  simple.  I  remember  the  first  blue 
Primula,  and  can  thoroughly  appreciate  the  progress  that  is  now  manv 
1  fested.  At  Wordsley  it  is  true,  and  in  good  character.  The  plants  are 
‘  dwarf  with  dull  red  stems  and  dark  leaves,  and  flowers  of  a  decided  blue. 
P:g.  33.— primulas  AT  WORDSLEY. 
here  and  there  on  the  same  flow’er  with  age.  It  is  somewhat  laller  than  ' 
Modesty,  but  is  equally  as  free-flowering.  Although  there  are  several 
other  ot  the  lighter  coloured  section  all  of  merit,  space  will  not  permit 
more  than  a  reterence  to  the  leading  varieties  at  present. 
Let  us  then  pass  on  to  colour,  such  as  is  rarely  seen  in  the  Primula  j 
family,  with  especial  reference  to  Eirefly.  I  doubt  if  the  insect  of  that  ' 
name  ever  shone  so  brightly  as  its  counterpart  in  nomenclature.  It  ’ 
strikes  one  as  a  glorified  type  of  the  Old  Chiswick  Red,  a  Primula  hard 
10  approach,  much  less  to  surpass,  ten  j-ears  ago.  Tne  colour  is  vivid 
dazzling  crimson,  dark-stemmed,  with  the  bloom  resting,  as  it  were,  on 
crimpy  foliage.  The  effect  of  a  large  collection  of  this  variety  on  a  dull 
January  day  is  most  pleasing,  and  everyone  who  desires  to  add  clieertul- 
ness  and  colour  to  their  conservatories  must  perforce  grow  this  acquisition 
in  bulk,  I 
Scarlet  Emperor  too,  calls  for  a'tention.  In  colour  it  is  what  I  should  j 
designate  soft  scarlet.  The  chief  point  iii  this  splendid  variety  is  the 
wealth  of  bloom  the  plants  carry.  And  yet  there  is  size  as  well,  and  it 
inaites  one  wonder  that  bad  s  ocks  are  tolerated  by  anyone  when  plants  j 
like  Scarlet  Emperor  can  be  grown  without  any  more  trouble  and  expense. 
This,  too,  has  dark  foliage  similar  to  Purity.  It  is  strong  end 
vigorous,  with  flower  stalks  carried  well  above  the  leaves,  and  keeps  pro- • 
wdth  slight  pale  yellow  eye,  of  extra  size  and  quality,  carried  v  eil  up  in 
fair  quantity  above  the  groundwork  of  bronzy  foliage.  Amongst  the 
novelties  sent  out  this  year  Snow  Queen  must  rank  as  one  ot  the  best 
whites.  The  firm’s  mixed  strain,  named  Exquisite,  is  famed  for  the 
brilliant  colour  and  fine  torm  of  the  plants.  With  double  Primulas,  the  red, 
salmon,  and  white  forms  leave  nothing  to  be  desired,  and  where  doublc-s 
are  appreciated  a  trial  ot  each  of  these  will  not  fail  to  satisfy  the  most 
fastidious. 
In  conclusion,  jSIessrs.  Webb  &  Sons,  with  increased  facilities  for  the 
reproduction  of  the  grand  strains,  may  go  on,  as  indeed  they  are  at  the 
oresont  time,  selecting  and  hybridising.  Practical  in  all  their  dealings^ 
the  partners  place  only  the  best  before  their  customers,  who  are  the 
supreme  judges  of  quality,  and  in  these  days  of  keen  competition  this 
must  be  the  keynote  of  success. — G.  IM.  A. 
[We  can  corroborate  our  correspondent’s  remarks  on  the  Wordsley 
Pri. nulls.  We  knoiv  the  grower,  Mr.  W.  Dyke,  to  be  a  close  obscrvei, 
who  is  always  ready  to  increase  his  large  store  of  practical  knowledge 
from  any  available  source.  The  illustration  (fig.  33),  from  a  photograph 
supplied  by  Messrs.  Webb  &;  Son«,  represents  a  house  of  Primula  Purity, 
about  whose  mcriis,  with  the  above  notes  and  such  a  picture,  noihiug 
more  need  be  said.] 
