PRIMULA COCKBURNIANA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20086, 30 April 1927, Page 3

PRIMULA COCKBURNIANA.

When Primula cockburniana first made its appearance amongst us it was haxlea with acclamation, as we had nothing resembling it in colour m the garden before among the primula race. It gave such brilliant orange-scarlet flowers that lovers of the family were enchanted by them, and looked forward not only to enjoying the species itself, but viewed with hopefulness in the minds eye the prospect of hybrids which partook, fnore or less, of the character of P, cockburniana with points of difference derived from other species. . the latter hopes have been, and are being, realised, as our gardens and the nurserymen s lists testify, with such notable examples as, say. Red Hugh and I AiJeen Aroon. besides so many others, that this point need not be laboured. With P, cockburniana itself, however, a good deal ot difficulty has been experienced by many growers. With a very large number it has a pronounced tendency to dying off after flowering, which is a great disappointment indeed. Various methods have been adopted to secure a long life for P. cockburniana, and one of the most successful the writer has seen has been that of growing this primula in a moraine. There the plants have not only survived for some years, but multitudes of self-sown seedlings have been produced, and continued to thrive. Another successful cultivator known to the writer grew P. cockburniana in rockwork pockets, with ashes up to above lin of the surface, the remainder being roadside grit and parings well decomposed before use. These conditions are not needed everywhere, and are, probably, better suited to the wetter districts of these islands. In the drier parts a welldrained, light, sandy soil should be satisfactory. In any case, many. prefer to sow some seeds annually of this charming primrose. It is almost unnecessary to say anything about the plant itself, so well known is it now. It grows fully 6in high, has neat leaves, and umbels of vivid orange-scarlet flowers.—“Dumfries,” in Amateur Gardening.