Evening star., 1942-08-23
Hardy Primrose
Valuable for
Its Coloring
Jabonica Produces
Several Whorls
On Short Stem
Bp Ed,Uin t.. Poweil

the polysnthus or hardy primrose
a garden group supposed to be hy-
brids of two or three species. 1t Is
one of the earliest of the spring
flowers and because of its large
heads of snowy brilliant flowers,
useful alike for garden and house
decoration, is one of the most pop
ular hardy perennials There Is
a considerable range Of color, size
and markings from white with yell
low eyes to dark rich reds. Many are
all yellow. There are several flowers
on an erect umbel on stem that
stands well above the foliage. There
is also a double or hose-in-hose
form.
A few growers have succeeded
with Prirnula Japonica which pro-
duces several superimposed whorls
of flowers on one to two foot stems
in late spring or early summer. 1t
is truly a magnificent plant in deep
moist soil and shady place. but
often fails to survive our hot sum-
mers. 1t comes in dark rich shades
pink, flesh and white.
Some of the seed catalogues list
several species, mostly of Himaiayan
or Chinese origin. They will some
times live for a year or two but
pass out during the hot summer. al
though in the north they can be
grown successfully. Cashmeriana
is one of the most dependable and
one Of the earliest to bloom in the
spring, producing dense heads Of
rich purple flowers with a yellow
center on stem several inches to a
foot or more high. 1t is variety Of
Denticulata, said to be the most
variable of the Himalayan species.
1t bears magnificent whorls of pale
purple. magenta, and white flowers.
| The Auricula is highly priced in
Great Britain where many named
varieties are, or at least were FORM
erly, grown. 1t has large and dis
/ tinct white or light colored eye sur
rounded by a broad bank of deep
rich color. The leaves are always at
tractive, being soft light green. 1t is
slow of increase and is commonly
grown as a pot plant In frame or
cold greenhouse. One grower in
this vicinity has grown his success
fully for several years in a border
on the north side of his house. The
only protection given 1t has been a
few pine boughs thrown over the
plants in winter. A four-year- old
plant was divided into four after
1t f1oWered this season. The Auri-
culas do best in light rich soil that
contains plenty of humus, prefer
ably in the form of rotted COW ma
nure.
Primroses are very easy to grow
under suitable conditions. They like
shade and moist and rather heavy
rich soil. The north or east side
of a building or under large trees
gives suitable shade. AS many
shrubs are shallow rooted and
spreading in habit their roots abb
sorb most of the surface moisture
but upright growers like lilacs pro-
vide fairly good conditions. After
the plants are established they need
little care and attention as they
are able to hold their own with
other plants. But sufficient cultiva-
ton to keep down weeds and grass
and light application of compost
or manure each spring will result in
larger finer flower and more Of
them.
Primroses are grown from seed
or increased by division. The seed
loses vitality quickly and If year
or more old it may require from
one to three years to germinate.
hence do not throw away seed boxes
but keep them in cool shady place
for two or three years. But fresh
seed terminates quickly-within
one to three weeks. Gather it as
soon as ripe in July and SOW at once
in box or pan three or four inches
deep nearly full of a mixture of
equal parts of good soil, peat moss,
and sharp sand. Scatter the seed
thinly and cover lightly with little
old sphagnum moss put through a
fine-mesh sieve. Then cover with a
piece Of burlap and set the box in a
shady place. Keep the soil moist
and lift the burlap every day after
a week or ten days to see when the
seedlings appear; it should then be
removed.
After the seedlings have their
third pair of leaves they should be
lifted carefully and transplanted to
a frame filed with similar soil.
Shade lightly if the sun shines
strong. The remaining plants in the
seed box will come along soon and
may be transplanted later. Some
pine boughs thrown over the plants
In winter give needed protection
for the seedlings as well as the es.
tablished plants. The seedlings may
be allowed to bloom in the frame
and transplanted as soon as the
open flowers show their colors. Thus
a color selection is easily obtained
and undesirable plants discarded,
Moving them at this stage does not
seem to interfere with their growth
or towering If good ball of earth
Is taken with each plant.
Established plants should be di-
vided about every three years, either
Immediately after Towering or in
september. AS the roots are numer-
Gus and tightly interlaced it re-
quires considerable strength and
skill to separate the plants without
destroying many of the roots. If
the plants are allowed to wilt over
night the job of division is easier.
Wash out the soil with hose from
around the roots or douse them in
a creek If you are fortunate enough
to have one. The plants should be
reset six to nine inches apart and
protected from the hot sun with
berry baskets for a few days If nee
essary. and kept we'll watered until
established again.