trunk.

A tree in the Royal Gardens, Kew, has just the same appearance. ASTERS FAILING: H. B. Without seeing a specimen, it is impossible to correctly determine the cause of your plants dying, but we suspect it is due to the Aster disease, the result of a fungus-Erysiphe cichoracearum. See our issue for June 2, 1906, p. 355.

BOOK: H. B We know of no work on the subject

other than Vegetable Teratology, by Dr. M. T. Masters, which is now out of print. You may, perhaps, be able to obtain a copy from a secondhand book shop.

BRACKEN (Pteris aquilina): A. G. If the growths are continually pulled out as soon as they can be observed above the ground, the rhizomes will in course of time die, because the essential functions of the plants will be thereby prevented. But bracken is capable of causing you very much trouble before it is exterminated by such means. The best method to adopt would be to trench the ground and get out all the rhizomes and roots, after which the grass seeds would have a much better opportunity to produce a good sward. It would probably be also the cheaper means in the end. The applying of chalk alone would not effect your purpose. CANADIAN GARDENING PAPER: D. R. The Canadian Horticulturist, 507-508, Manning Chambers, Toronto, Canada.

CELERY DISEASED: J.L. Your plants are attacked by a fungus, Cercospora apii. See answer to H.S., in our last issue.

in

DEBATING SOCIETY: H. R. M. Apply to the secretary of the Ilford Horticultural Society, Mr. D. J. Hill, 34, Selborne Road, Ilford. The horticultural instructor for the county of Middlesex is Mr. J. Weathers, Talbot Villa, Isleworth. EUCHARIS PLANT: IV. Cookson. We have illustrated many very fine specimen plants of Eucharis grandiflora in these pages, at various times, but of most other plants showing skilful cultivation we shall be pleased to receive photographs for inspection from any of our readers. EVERGREENS FOR BORDERS IN SUNDERLAND: Doubtful. Have the border thoroughly broken up and well manured before planting is attempted, as the roots of the old Sycamore trees will have robbed the soil of plant food. Arrange your specimens in groups of say five to twelve, or even more, plants, because the effect of a colony of one species is much more pronounced than that produced by the mixed system of planting. The undermentioned plants are likely to prove satisfactory. Two of the best flowering shrubs for your purpose are Berberis Darwinii and B. stenophyla; a third Barberry, B. aquifolium, might be included on account of its perfect hardihood and brownish-crimson foliage winter. Phillyrea decora (P. Vilmoriniana) is an easily grown handsome species with tiny white, hawthorn-scented flowers crowded round the previous year's wood in spring. The golderleaved form of the common broad-leaved Privet will give colour all the year through, and is a good shrub for town gardens. Crataegus pyracantha, the evergreen fire thorn, and Olearia Haastii, the New Zealand Daisy bush, are both good plants for your purpose. The Handsworth and other strong growingvarieties of the common Box-Buxus sempervirens-would flourish, and also the green and variegated forms of Elæagnus pungens. The Skimmias are hardy, dwarf in habit, and pleasing in foliage, flower and berry. Aucuba japonica is an accommodating shrub, but is especially effective on sunny borders. Cytisus albus and C. scoparius (white and yellow Brooms respectively), as well as the varieties præcox and Andreanus, also Cytisus biflorus, are very hardy and floriferous. Yucca recurva is a handsome foliage plant for the front part of the border, and at flowering time is particularly ornamental. Hollies should be planted freely, especially such varieties of the type Hodginsii, camelliafolia, platyphylla Golden Queen, aureo marginata bromeliafolia, argentea marginata "Silver Queen," and argentea medio-picta (albo picta). If your soil is free from lime many hybrid Rhododendrons, such as Cynthia, H. W. Sargeant, Ascot Brilliant, Gomer Waterer, Viscountess Powerscourt, Baroness Rothschild, and Countess of Tankerville should be included. Wherever Rhododendrons succeed Pieris (Andromeda) floribunda should be grown. Ulex europea fl. pl. (double

as

flowered gorse), Quercus ilex and Osmanthus ilicifolius variegatus are hardy and ornamental. If you wish to include a few Conifers those here mentioned are particularly hardy: Cupressus nootkatensis, C. Lawsoniana, C.-L. lutea, C.-L. Silver Queen, C.-L. argentea, Retinospora obtusa aurea, R.-o. filifera, R.-o. gracilis, R. pisifera squarrosa, &c. Of Yews, Taxus baccata elegantissima and T-b. aurea are the best. Thuya occidentalis lutca, T.-o. Ellwangeriana are effective.

GRAPES DISEASED: L. G. R. and R. S. O. The berries are affected with the grape spot disease, the work of a fungus, Gloeosporium ampelophagum. The lateral sent by RS. 0. is also affected by the disease. The diseased berries must be all cut out and burned Dredging with flowers of sulphur should be practised on the shoots and leaves at intervals of ten days. A small quantity of quicklime should be mixed with the sulphur on the second application, and the quantity should be increased each time until the proportion of lime and sulphur is about equal. It has been found of service to thoroughly wet the branches with a solution of sulphate of iron when the vine is resting. The use of rich stable manure is stated to render the vines susceptible to this disease. All fallen leaves and prunings should be collected and burned. GRUBS IN SOIL: F. F. The grubs can be destroyed by baking the soil. In the case of your pot plants, make a hole in the soil near the side of the pots and pour in bisulphide of carbon at the rate of about two teaspoonfuls to a 6-inch pot. Close the holes after the application has been made and keep the plants in the shade for a week afterwards. Caution bisulphide of carbon is highly inflammable and poisonous. HEAVY TOMATO FRUIT: G. G. Your fruit weighing 1 lb. 6 ozs. is not a record weight for a Tomato. In the Gardeners' Chronicle for April 26, 1902, p. 279, an illustration was given of a fruit which weighed 1 lb. 10 ozs. That specimen was grown by Mr. Burgess at Knowle. JUDGING EXHIBITS AT FLOWER SHOWS: J. W. The system you recommend is already practised at Shrewsbury and some other large exhibitions, where the points awarded each dish in the large fruit classes are tabled and exhibited to the public. Whether this system could be usefully extended to the smaller classes at such shows, and to Rose exhibitions is a question of expediency and convenience. It may, however, be remarked that in cases where the list of points awarded is not published, the actual awarding of the prizes may possibly have been determined by point-judging. When the judges approach a competitive class of whatever nature it may be, they have to consider whether the differences in the exhibits are markedly distinct or not, and if the competition is good, the only safe course for them to adopt is to agree upon a standard and "point" the different constituents of the best exhibits. But in other cases where there is considerable disparity between the produce shown and the order of the prize exhibits can therefore be easily determined upon examination, there is not the same need for point-judging, though in theory this may always be held to be desirable. We quite agree with your opinion that the quality of size is frequently overappraised at horticultural shows, and that the practice of showing a few flowers of new varieties of Rose obtained from maiden plants may be misleading to visitors who attend exhibitions for the purpose of taking notes of varieties that appear to them desirable for cultivation in their own garden. These are disadvantages connected with exhibitions that have long been recognised and freely discussed. Those responsible for the holding of such shows should regard it as a duty to minimise these and other disadvantages as much as possible. Whether they could be entirely prevented is doubtful, and in any case we think the good arising from properly conducted horticultural shows is sufficient to outweigh such evils. It is necessary, however, for amateurs to learn that whilst it is exceedingly useful to make themselves familiar with the best exhibitions, and to take note of varieties that excite their admiration, it is essential that, before they decide to cultivate such varieties in their own gardens, information should be sought as to their habit of growth, strength of constitution, and general fitness for cultivation in the conditions under which they would be expected to grow.

NAMES OF FLOWERS AND FRUITS.-We are anxious to oblige correspondents as far as we consistently can, but they must bear in mind that it is no part of our duty to our subscribers to name either flowers or fruits. Such work entails considerable outlay, both of time and money, and cannot be allowed to encroach upon time required for other matters. Correspondents should never send more than six plants or fruits at one time: they should be very careful to label them properly, to give every information as to the county the fruits are grown in, and to send ripe, or nearly ripe, specimens which show the character of the variety. By neglecting these precautions correspondents add greatly to our labour, and run the risk of delay and incorrect determinations. Correspondents not answered in this issue are requested to be so good as to consult the following numbers.

Miss R. Apple Harvey's Wiltshire Defiance (a grand fruit).-W. G. S. 1, Minchull Crab; 2, Worcester Pearmain; 3, not recognised; 4, King of the Pippins; 5, Greave's Pippin; 6, Bedfordshire Foundling.-C. A. B. Apple Summer Strawberry. The Nectarine was crushed. Peaches and Nectarines should be fully grown, but not perfectly ripe when packed, and they should be sent in a separate package.-F. A. T. 1, Malster; 2, Cellini Pippin; 3, Lord Suffield; 4, Dumelow's Seedling (Wellington); 5, Gravenstein; 6, Emperor Alexander.-A. J F., Leamington. Apple King of the Pippins.-H. G. 1 and 4, Dutch Codlin; 2, Grenadier: 3, Alfriston.-Sleath 1 and 3, Worcester Pearmain; 2, Scarlet Pearmain. NAMES OF PLANTS: Winterhome. 1, Camellia japonica; 2, send when in flower; 3, Phyllocactus species, but no flowers are sent; 4, Agave americana variegata; 5, send later when in flower; 6, Crataegus sp. ; 7, Cotoneaster frigida; 8, the specimen is insufficient; 9, Dactylis glomerata variegated variety; 10, Isolepis gracilis syn. Scirpus setaceus; 11, Oplismenus Burmannii (Panicum variegatum).-C. L. B. Tecoma radicans, a well-known North American plant, Nat. Ord. Bignoniaceæ.-Miss C. Parnassia palustris, but the leaf sent is not that of this species.-T. G., Buntingford. Polygonum baldschuanicum.-W. E. L. 1, Carex sp.; 2, Dactylis glomerata, variegated variety; 3, Rivinia humulis.-I. S. E. It is impossible to name the Arum from the berries alone; an inflorescence and leaf are required.-Rayner. 1, Helianthus multiflorus; 2, Helianthus rigidus. It is difficult to be certain when naming such You scraps as these specimens.-G. W. L. send more than the regular number. 1, Melia Azedarach; 2, Moorea bicolor; 3, Bankinia sp.; 4, not recognised; 5, Eriobotrya japonica; 6, Eugenia sp., flowers required to identify; 8, Persea gratissima; 9, Ceanothus Gloire de Versailles; 10, Pyrus Aria; 11, Pyrus Aria var. -C E. F. Eria flava.-L. W. Why not number your specimens? The trailing plant is Linaria Cymbalaria. The Heath with the decussate leaves is the common Ling, Calluna vulgaris; the other is Erica cinerea, the Scotch Heather.-J. M. 3, Trifolium arvense; 4, Apium graveolens; 5, Hieracium umbellatum. Thanks for the contribution of two shillings to the Royal Gardeners' Orphan Fund. The names of Pears will be published next week. NURSERY BUSINESS: E. H. The amount of your capital being so small, it will be better to cultivate some speciality, which will depend upon the experience you obtain in the meantime. PEARS FAILING TO KEEP WELL: A. F. H. The Pears should not have been gathered in so green a condition as you mention. They should be harvested when they can be readily parted from the stalk, which can be ascertained by lifting them in the hand. With regard to your other question, we should not advise your commencing business if you have no experience, but providing you know something of the trade you could start in a small way with the capital you mention. It would be better to work in the nursery for a time as an assistant and save your money, than to risk losing it when you have no knowledge of marketing and selling.

COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED.-A. Spriging (your letter has been forwarded-Galbraith, Bethune & Co. (many thanks, the news was published in these pages a fortnight ago)— C. Sprenger (many thanks)-F. M.-H. W.-P. W. (photographs with thanks)-J. Mc-J. W.-L. E. S.-T. M.— H. P.-T. W. C.-J. W. G.-W. H. C.-B. L.-I. L. R.G. H. C.-W. and S.-J. G. W.-C. P. R.-C. R.-W. H. J. T.-S. A.-W. F. G.-F. B.-W. P.-J. D. G.-J. C.J. A., Beira (photographs)-A. W. Sutton-E. M.

For Market and Weather Reports see page x.

THE

Gardeners' Chronicle

plish-such, for instance, as the enforcement of measures to prevent the introduction of diseases, so far as that may be possible, or to stamp out the pests when they have been introduced. Individuals, or even associations of individuals, can only render imperfect aid in such matters, or it may be that their efforts might prove futile. The phylloxera spread far and wide in spite of the most stringent Government restrictions. Mr. Radcliffe Cool:e instances the Pear midge, which, he says, though we think he must be mistaken, has only been known in this country for twenty years. At any rate he says, had the Board of Agriculture of that

A

FRUIT-GROWERS, THE GOVERNMENT, AND

THE RAILWAYS.

214 206 218

215 216

207 208 209 218

N interesting correspondence has been going on lately in the Times. In the first place, Mr. C. Radcliffe Cooke, following the recommendations of the Departmental Committee to enquire into the present condition of the fruit industry, urged the formation of a special department of the Board of Agriculture with two sub-departments, one to act as a bureau of information on all subjects connected with the industry, the other to form and supervise a special experimental fruit-farm. The present President of the Board of Agriculture was waited on by a representative deputation to urge him to give effect to the recommendations of the committee. The results were not encouraging. The Government is pledged to economy and to reduce taxation, and does not see its way to carry out the recommendations of the committee. So far as these objects can be effected by co-operation among the persons concerned, it would no doubt be better to rely on private enterprise than to invoke Government aid. But there are other matters that only a central government armed with the necessary powers can accom

cates, the existence and habitat of this pest would have been known, and precautions would have been taken against its introduction or to secure its extermination. Now, in this matter, as in so very many similar instances, the pest was described and figured years ago in the Gardeners' Chronicle by foremost experts [see Gardeners' Chronicle, July 14, 1888, p. 45]. The difficulty is, or has been, to get people to read, and more especially to heed what they read. Thanks to the increased activity of the Department of Agriculture and to the County Council schools and lecturers, there are signs of improvement in these particulars, and the coming generation will be better fitted to deal with these matters than their predecessors. The United States Department of Agriculture and the numerous colleges and stations, to whose labours we have so often to allude, furnish an excellent example, which we might follow with great advantage in this country.

1

Another subject of great importance to fruit growers is raised by Mr. Cecil Hooper. He does not do more than allude to the rates charged by the railway companies, and in this perhaps he is wise, as the companies have to make a living as well as the fruit growers, and their shareholders have as much right for consideration as the growers. A fair compromise is all that can be expected between conflicting interests. Motorcars and canals will sooner or later compete so keenly with the railways that the public, at least, will gain by the competition. Mr. Hooper's complaint is mainly directed against the late arrival of the fruit-trains, the possible loss of a market, and the certain deterioration of quality of the fruit by delays in delivery. Mr. Hooper cites instances where Strawberries which arrived at Covent Garden at ten in the morning sold at nine shillings the peck, whilst at 11.45 the price had fallen to 4s. 6d. and 5s. This is no doubt very grievous to the grower whose fruit arrived late, but it must be remembered also that if all the fruit were delivered early the price would also be low in proportion, and, again, there is, within twenty or thirty miles of London, and doubtless of other great centres of population, no reason why farmers and fruit growers should not co-operate and be their own carriers by motor-traction, and by steam boats where rivers and canals are available. Wholesome competition of this kind would doubtless induce the railway companies to reconsider their tariffs and increase their speed. Mr. Hooper concludes his letter with the following recommendations :

"Parliament should deal with the railways in the matter of their carriage of perishable produce as to:

(1) Reclassification, based on trouble given, amount of handling, and space taken rather than on the basis of liability to claim. all

(2) Efficient care should be given to goods, independent of rate.

(3) The railways should be held responsible to deliver in reasonable time; and (4) to deliver the proper quantity.

(5) Temporary glut rates should be allowed when there is a very abundant crop, in order to carry the fruit cheaply to greater distances and to market, to avoid fruit being left unpicked and wasted.

(6) The Board of Trade should put in force their existing powers in case of breaches of the law by the railway companies.

(7) In the case of agricultural produce, the Board of Agriculture should be arbitrator in disputes between the producer and the railway.

The English fruit grower asks for fair play and to be treated as well as the foreigner, and believes the railways by granting greater facilities and cheaper rates would not only benefit this valuable and important industry, but that the railways would be more prosperous, and increased dividends would be earned for the shareholders."

In a subsequent number, Mr. Pratt traverses some of Mr. Hooper's specific statements by reference to the records of the railway companies. Mr. Pratt further intimates that the delay in delivery is not entirely the fault of the railway companies:

66

The evidence given before the two committees proved that, whatever the actual shortcomings of the railways, the fault for this late delivery is far from being entirely due to them. It was shown, in the first place, that fruitgrowers generally send their consignments to the local station only at the last moment, so that difficulties occur in handling them, and the delay of trains in starting is unavoidable. Then, when the railway-vans take the consignments to the London markets, they may be kept waiting for several hours owing either to the congestion of traffic in the streets, or, alternatively, to the reluctance of the salesmen to accept delivery when the market is over-supplied and previous consignments have made poor prices. Concerning such delays Mr. Vincent W. Hill, general manager of the SouthEastern and Chatham Railway, said in his evidence before the Departmental Committee on the Fruit Industry: That renders it extremely difficult and very expensive to the companies, seeing that the vans cannot get back to take a second load, and it also causes delay at the railway by not clearing away the second lot of fruit that comes in.'"

PROPAGATION IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER.

IN the present month, as in August, great use may be made of the mild hot-bed in the open air for the propagation of the under-mentioned plants, which are largely employed in the flower garden and greenhouse. Some of them winter sufficiently well in store pots of from 6 to 8 inches diameter, filled with sandy loam and leaf-soil, and surfaced with clean silver sand, or washed sea sand. If space will permit, however, better results are obtained by potting the rooted cuttings singly in large or small 60's, in which they may be kept till the spring or planting-out time, according as may seem desirable, or, should the plants be required to furnish cuttings for early spring propagation, a slight re-potting may become necessary at the end of the month of January. A mild hot-bed, i.e., one that will afford a bottom heat of 75°, is best made of freshly-fallen tree leaves, but, failing these,. those left over from the previous autumn will: do if mixed with long stable litter in equal proportions. The bed must be made one foot, wider and longer than the garden frames that.

will be placed thereon, and the materials should be firmly trodden, and when the frame is in position other leaves should be added so as to bring the tops of the cuttings within 6 inches of the lights. Some gardeners plunge the cutting pots directly into the leaves; others place a 6-inch layer of finely-sifted coal ashes or halfdecayed leaves over the last-named material, in which to plunge the pots.

In such beds can be rooted the following:Cuphea platycentra, Verbenas in variety, Petunias, Ageratum in variety, Bouvardia (roots and cuttings of the top growths), Gazania, Gnaphalium, Heliotropes, Lantanas, Angelonia, Anthemis, Veronica, Coleus, Senecio, Solanums, Pelargoniums, and Chelone.

All of the varieties of Pelargoniums employed in flower beds in the summer are the better for

stronger shoots for the spring propagation than old store plants, and are, therefore, to be preferred. The same applies to Iresines, but, perhaps, to a lesser degree.

If plants of Sempervivum tabulæforme, Echeveria metallica, or others are in bloom in the open ground, some of them may be carefully taken up and be potted in sandy loam, and stood in a sunny house that is well ventilated daily; they will then set their flowers, and ripen their seeds, which is unlikely to occur out of doors in this country. When ripe, sow the seeds, after allowing them to become dry for a day or two, and nice plants will be secured for the following year.

Seeds of Lilium Thunbergianum, and L. tenuifolium often occur in the ripe state on the plants. The capsules should be gathered, and

need protection, and in these may be put at this season Roses, Kerria, Honeysuckles, Hy. drangeas, Dianthus, Lilac, Aubrietia, Laurel, shrubby Veronicas, &c. It is usual to surround these beds with sheep hurdles, matted thickly with straw, in order to keep out frost and cold winds, and to cover them at night time with mats, formed either of straw or bast. Such beds should be kept at about 40° to 45° Fahr.

Cuttings of many kinds of evergreen shrubs and others may be inserted in sandy soil laid upon beds of almost spent tan, old Melon beds, and the like, which retain a certain amount of heat that will favour the formation of roots. Euonymus japonicus, E. radicans, Aucuba, Weigelia, &c., may be propagated in this manner. The French call such lukewarm beds couche sourde, and use them extensively for striking cuttings of shrubs from soft shoots, and for the propagation of such plants as Bamboos, Yucca, Arundo, &c., from cross sections of the stems.

The following species of shrubs may now be layered: Rhami.us, Viburnum [i.aurestinus], Magnolia, Spiræa, Rhododendrons, and Aucubas. Rhododendrons raised from layers as stocks on which to graft the finer varieties may be lifted and potted in readiness for grafting under glass. Bud the female Aucuba with the male kind in these months, in order that when the female blossoms appear, they may become fertilised, and furnish an abundance of shining scarlet berries in the winter months.

Seeds.-Sow for late flowering seeds of Primula, Calceolaria herbacea, and Cinerarias of the various sections. F. M.

being rooted in prepared beds of sandy soil in full sunshine, as early in September as it may be possible to obtain firm, well-matured shoots from the top and exposed parts of the plants. The varieties usually grown for greenhouse decoration, viz., the fine large-flowered Zonals and the Ivy-leafed, may be equally successfully rooted in these open-air beds as under glass or in the mild hot-bed, and the plants are more robust, and the losses fewer.

In the warm bed, cuttings formed of twoyear-old shoots of Ficus elastica, Dracæna stem slabs, and underground tubers may be rooted; also Phygelius capensis. Iresines and Alternantheras, both require more warmth than afforded by the mild hot-bed, say, a bottom warmth of 80° and top heat of 70°. These early struck Alternantheras afford better and

dried in the sun for a day or two, when the seeds may be sown in peat and leafmould, in which they will germinate in about four weeks. Seeds of L. auratum, L. giganteum, and others take a year, or even longer, to appear above ground. The wooden box is, in the case of Lilies, a better receptacle for the soil than pots or pans. A warmth of 55 is required to germinate the seed.

A shady border, prepared by digging and adding a liberal sprinkling of sharp sand, and having some well-rotted leafmould incorporated with the soil, may be made of use for the reception of cuttings of Centaurea candidissima, C. gymnocarpa, Pentstemons, Pansies, Violas, and Phloxes, both shrubby and prostrate species.

A sort of cold bed is employed on the Continent for the purpose of wintering cuttings that

ENCEPHALARTOS
ALTENSTEINII.

I SEND you a photograph (reproduced at fig. 84) of a very fine specimen of Encephalartos Altensteinii. The plant, with many more of the same and other species of the genus, is growing in the garden of Mr. Smartt, in the Uitenhage division of Cape Colony, and is estimated to be considerably over 100 years old. It has survived a good many bush-fires, and the aged trunk is charred like a cinder from the base to a point at about 3 feet from the ground; anl is a great curiosity owing to the offshoot-which is invariably termed the Piccaninny -growing, as it does similar to the way a Kaffir mother carries her child. Mr. Smartt is a great admirer of these uncommon plants, and is never tired of collecting aged, quaint, and new specimens, or relating his experiences concerning their characteristics and peculiarities. Situated some 25 miles from Port Elizabeth, it is a locality of beautiful scenery and botanical interest. A fine river runs through the farm, and the lovely Van Staadens Gorge is quite close. Miss North visited the farm and district, and her notes are, I believe, preserved in the library at the Royal Gardens, Kew. Harry Rabjohn.

THE PRIMULAS OF CHINA. (Continued from page 192.)

In height, Chinese Primulas range from half an inch in l. Pumilio to 3 feet or more in P. pulverulenta. The first-named has bright rose-pink flowers, which expand immediately the snow melts, forming lovely carpets in the moist, grassy belts. So minute is the plant that it is nearly impossible to find it when in fruit or out of flower, and, even when in flower, it is tedious work gathering specimens.

P. pulverulenta, on the other hand, is seen from afar, and once seen, never forgotten. This new species has already many friends in this country, and is, I venture to predict, destined to become in the near future the most highlyprized of all hardy Primulas. It is in the way of, but distinct from and superior to, P. japonica [see fig. 85, p. 20] no higher praise can be given. The cultural requirements of P. pul

verulenta are those of P. japonica, and all who succeed with the latter will have no difficulty with the new plant. In vigour, size, and colour of flowers, P. pulverulenta equals the best forms of the Japanese Primrose, whilst its tall scapes, often with nine separate whorls of flowers, are densely clothed with white farina. It is in the possession of this latter character, combined with all the good qualities of P. japonica, that P. pulverulenta may be placed at the head of the family of Primroses hardy in this country.

There is one unfortunate fact about Primulas, and one that is of much horticultural significance, namely, that many species are little better than biennials, and only succeed uncer cultivation when treated as such. This is particularly true of many of the strong-growing bog-loving species, such, for example, as P. sikkimensis, P. Wilsoni, and P. vittata [see fig. 87, p. 209]. A great many of the Chino-Himalayan species really belong to this category, but such as P. Veitchii and P. pulverulenta are absolutely perennial.

Comparisons are ever invidious, and if any are entered into here it is not with any intention or desire to disparage the merits of Primulas found in countries other than China. To do so would be absurd. In P. sinensis China supplies what is probably the most popular member of the whole Primrose family. For about sixty years this was the only species of Primula known from the Flowery Land, in cultivation in this country, and the habitat of even this species was unknown until about three decades ago. Twenty-five years ago the late Chas. Marles, when collecting for Messrs. Veitch, introduced from Ichang the now wellknown P. obconica. About 1889 two other species, P. Forbesii and P. Poissoni, were sent to France by Père Delavay, and shortly afterwards these got into cultivation in this country.

To these four species cultivated in this country, the writer, under the auspices of Messrs. Veitch, has had the good fortune to add 19 more species. Several of these are quite new. and all have flowered in this country. Many of these new-comers have been figured and described in the columns of the Gardeners' Chronicle, and Messrs. Veitch's exhibit of new Primulas at the Temple Show will be fresh in the minds of all who saw it.

Various systems of classification have been devised and adopted by botanists who have dealt with the Primula family. All such systems are more or less useful, but for the purpose of this article we need not trouble ourselves about specific affinity, and a classification based on habitat will probably be of most interest to plant lovers. The Chinese Primulas easily lend themselves to such grouping, and we may divide them into Limestone, Woodland, and Grassland species. These groups are very unequal, 85 per cent of the species falling into the last-named group.

I. Limestone. The most noteworthy member of this group, and the only one in cultivation, is P. sinensis. So much has been written about this favourite that there is really nothing left to tell. I may perhaps remind readers that in a wild state this plant is a true perennial, and occurs on bare ledges and niches of cliffs fully exposed to the sun, where it gets but very, very little moisture. In a state of nature the flowers are of a uniform mauve pink, and I never saw any variation in colour-not even an Albino! This is, to say the least, remarkable, when we consider the wide range of colour we find in this plant under cultivation. In late January and February the cliffs around Ichang, where this plant has its home, are a delightful picture. After flowering, the flower-stalk becomes negatively heliotropic (turns away from the light), an interesting biclogical character which the plant appears to have lost under long cultivation.

P. yunnanensis, P. pulchella and P. brac

teata are three of Delavay's "finds" belonging to this category of Limestone species. P. bracteata is a truly extraordinary species with a woody stem as thick as an ordinary lead pencil, and 8 inches to 1 foot long. The flowers are pink, of small size.

II. Woodland.--This, like the preceding, is a small group, comprising fewer than a dozen species. P. ovalifolia and P. sonchifolia are perhaps the most striking. From Central to Western China (about 1,000 miles), between 3,000 and 8,000 feet, the first-named is very abundant, and is to China what P. vulgaris is to this country. P. sonchifolia connects up with P. ovalifolia at 8,000 feet, and extends to 11,000 feet. Both species have large violet

tivation. P. calliantha is a denizen of the Pine woods of Western Yunnan, where it was discov ered by Delavay. It is a very handsome species, in many respects resembling P. nivalis. P. deflexa, P. Viali, P. Giraldi, P. nutans, P. bellidifolia, and P. cernua are all found growing in thin woods and shrubberies at considerable elevations. These species form a curious group, having the flowers arranged in a dense coneshaped head; the pedicels are very short and the corollas deflexed. The flowers are of varying shades of violet-purple or blue, and are very sweet-scented. The scapes are often 1 feet high. P. deflexa, P. nutans, P. bellidifolia, and P. ovalifolia are the only members of the woodland group as yet in cultivation.

purple flowers. Owing to some unknown reason (possibly excessive rainfall) both these species apparently fail to produce good seeds. The capsules swell up well, but burst before the seeds are mature. The green immature seeds may be seen in the ruptured capsule, and though several attempts were made with these "seeds," all failed to grow.

The introduction of P. ovalifolia was accomplished by bringing to this country living plants from the neighbourhood of Ichang. P. ovalifolia flowered at Coombe Wood last year, and was figured in the Gardeners' Chronicle, 1905, vol. xxxviii., p. 62, Suppl. Unfortunately, this lovely plant so far refuses to thrive under cul

III. Grassland.-The term, "Grassland," is somewhat vague, and is used for the simple reason that a more comprehensive one is not forthcoming. Under this heading are grouped all the species of Chinese Primulas which inhabit open places, whether it be grassland, marshland, woodland glades, or bare rocks in the higher Alpine regions. As members of this group extend practically from the sea-level to the limits of vegetation, it will conduce to clearness if some sort of sub-division be made. Fortunately, the species lend themselves to this, and we may conveniently group all found below 8,500 as Temperate species. Those found ab ve 8,500 we may designate Alpine species.