Primula elatior. HAT is the difference between a primrose and a polyanthus ? There is a great difference apparently, for one is catalogued as Primula vulgaris, and the other as Primula elatior. The ready answer is, that a primrose has one flower on a stalk, but a polyanthus has many. It happens, however, that primroses are produced in clusters, as polyanthuses are, but they appear to be produced singly, because the stem that carries the cluster is very short, and the secondary stem, or peduncle that carries the flower, is very long. Now and then a common primrose determines to explain the case to the young botanist, and then we see a stout stem bearing on its summit a cluster of primroses. These are called polyanthus primroses, and, generally speaking, they are scarcely so pretty as the (apparently) single Primula elatior. HAT is the difference between a primrose and a polyanthus ? There is a great difference apparently, for one is catalogued as Primula vulgaris, and the other as Primula elatior. The ready answer is, that a primrose has one flower on a stalk, but a polyanthus has many. It happens, however, that primroses are produced in clusters, as polyanthuses are, but they appear to be produced singly, because the stem that carries the cluster is very short, and the secondary stem, or peduncle that carries the flower, is very long. Now and then a common primrose determines to explain the case to the young botanist, and then we see a stout stem bearing on its summit a cluster of primroses. These are called polyanthus primroses, and, generally speaking, they are scarcely so pretty as the (apparently) single stalked common primroses. But how comes all this colour into the polyanthus, if it is but a primrose, seeing that a true primrose is always of a pale yellow colour? But, then, a true primrose is not necessarily of a pale yellow colour, for we have them of all colours, from pure white to deep yellow, and from pale rose and lavender to crimson and purple-blue. On one occasion I sat down in the park at Bicton to gossip with my old friend the late Mr. James Barnes, and the knoll of wild herbage we selected for our symposium was dotted with primroses of at least a dozen. colours, some being brown or slaty, but others lively rose, full purple, red, and the most delicate lilac. Therefore, as to the growth and the colouring, it will not be difficult for the observant gardener to believe that the primrose and the polyanthus are but forms of the same species, owning a common origin in the type named by Linnæus Primula veris. There are two distinct classes of polyanthuses. The bedding and border kinds have flowers characterised by gay colours; the florists' or exhibition polyanthuses have dark maroon or black grounds, and a rich gold lacing. On the roundness, smoothness, velvety texture, and sharpness of the lacing depends the relative merit of the show varieties, which are valued highly by the few florists who understand and appreciate them. The polyanthus requires a rich loamy soil. It will thrive on clay if well managed; moisture is conducive to the health and free flowering of the plant, and it bears shade well, but if heavily shaded, and in a damp situation, becomes coarse, and the flowers are comparatively few and wanting in colour. The only way to multiply named varieties is by division, which is best accomplished in the month of August, but may be performed with more or less success at any season. A ready mode of raising a stock is to sow seeds in pans of light rich soil, and to keep them in a frame, or a shady and rather damp place, until the plants appear. The seed is very capricious in its behaviour, for if sown when quite fresh and kept damp and dark, it will sprout up in ten or twelve days; but old seed will remain dormant for months, perhaps even for a year, and then grow freely and produce nice healthy plants. It is a point of very great importance to cover the seed with the thinnest possible dusting of fine soil, and it is advisable to cover the seed pan with a sheet of paper or a sprinkling of moss, which, of course, must be removed when the tender green herb appears. There are some brilliant strains in cultivation as bedding plants, and they have been employed with singular effect in the London parks. These are all raised from seed, and when the flowering is over the plants are destroyed; thus it becomes necessary to save seed every year from the best plants, and to have successive batches of seedlings to maintain the annual display. On dry sandy soils, and in hot arid situations, the polyanthus is comparatively worthless. It is a flower of the valleys, and loves comfort, but cold is never so harmful to it as heat, and in any case where the plant is tried by drought or heat it should be aided by shading and systematic watering. The primrose, polyanthus, oxlip, and cowslip are so nearly related that it is a difficult matter to define them nicely; but the definition is of little consequence to the lover of flowers, however important it may be to such as "allium call their onions and their leeks." Let us, however, be |