Although this plant is very hardy, I am aware that many amateurs are not so successful with it as they would wish. This, I presume, arises principally from its liability to decay if kept too damp at root, either from using pots of a large size, or supplying water too freely. Four and six inch pots will be found of ample size, not that a plant will not grow in a pot three feet in diameter as well as it would in one inches. The only difference would be that, in the former, the plant would probably require water once a month and the latter daily.
To keep up a succession of flowers for four or five months, seed should be put in at intervals of five or six weeks, from June to September, soil of a sandy nature should be prepared, and the seeds very slightly covered. The front shelf in the greenhouse will be a suitable place for them while growing, they should be encouraged by transplanting into a shallow box as soon as the first true leaf makes its appearance. If thinly planted (not closer than three inches) they can remain until sufficiently strong to be placed at once into flowering pots. These must be well drained by placing a handful of broken material in each pot. If attention is paid to this, there will be little fear of damp, if ordinary care is given in watering. Two small stakes should be inserted one each side of the plant, crossing other at top, no tying will be necessary, this will prevent them from toppling over and breaking off at the neck where they are very weak. A few of the latest sowing should be set apart for seedling. A little care and attention should be given to their selection, choosing those with large, well colored fringed flowers. Sometimes they incline to be semi-double; these should have the preference. About the middle of May they should be set out in the sun, watered regularly, and if they receive an occasional application of manure water the value of the seed will be enhanced. Under these conditions an abundance of seed will be secured. It is not worth trouble to preserve old plants; young ones flowering with much more vigour; any particularly fine variety, however, may be turned out of the pot after it has done blooming, some of the old soil removed and replaced in fresh compost. The double varieties are much superior to the single ones. They are increased by dividing the plant into cuttings. To propagate them requires a cool dry situation, partially shaded, paying great attention in watering, they must be kept rather dry until they begin to show symptoms of growth; otherwise they are certain to decay. It is probably on this account that they are not so extensively cultivated as they deserve to be.
Delta.
ON THE DOUBLE CHINESE PRIMROSE.
To the Editor of the Florist, Sir: As you invite communications from practical gardeners, I offer a few remarks on the above; as I think it a much rarer plant than it ought to be—few plants excel it in simple beauty, and by proper management it may be had in bloom every month in the year. Being double, it can only be propagated by cuttings, which may be taken off at any time, and readily struck in sand under a bell glass. In about three weeks they are sufficiently rooted to pot into single pots. I find them to thrive best in a compost of rough leaf mould and sandy loam, in well drained pots. I repot them as often as they become well rooted; and pinch off every flower stalk that appears till the plant is six months old at least. I then let it flower on, and as each flower truss shows symptoms of withering, pluck it out. By this course it will continue to flower a whole year. They frequently die out from exhaustion at this time, and the only way I find to prevent this, is to divide the plant into off-sets, and so start with them as with new plants. They always do well with me by this treatment. The double white is the commonest and most easy to be procured; but I have observed in a report of the Pennsylvania Society, that the purple exists also in your neighborhood.
If you think the above worthy of insertion in the Florist, I should be happy to send you some others when I have leisure.
Yours, &c., Hortus.