The flowers are white, not unlike the small white dog-rose in both size
and form; the calyx is of three leaves, which fall off; the corolla, of
six to nine petals; peduncle nearly an inch long, which joins the stem
at the junction of the two leaf stalks, only one flower being produced
on a stem or plant. The leaves join the rather tall and naked stem by
stalks, 2in. to 3in. long; they are handsome in both form and habit. As
the specific name implies, the leaves are peltate or umbrella-shaped,
deeply lobed, each lobe being deeply cut, and all unevenly toothed and
hairy at the edges, with a fine down covering the under sides; the upper
surface is of a lively, shining green colour, and finely veined. The
flower is succeeded by a large one-celled ovate berry, in size and form
something like a damson, but the colour is yellow when ripe, at which
stage the berry becomes more conspicuous than the flower could be, from
the manner in which the young leaves were held.

We want cheerful-looking plants for the bare parts under trees, and this
is a suitable one, provided the surface soil has a good proportion of
vegetable matter amongst it, and is rather moist. The thick horizontal
roots creep near the surface, so it will be seen how important it is to
secure them against drought otherwise than by depth of covering; a moist
and shady position, then, is indispensable. In company with trilliums,
hellebores, anemones, and ferns, this graceful plant would beautifully
associate. Another way to grow it is in pots, when exactly the required
kind of compost can easily be given, viz., peat and chopped sphagnum.
Thus potted, plunged in wet sand, and placed in a northern aspect, it
will be found not only to thrive well, as several specimens have done
with me, but also to be worth all the trouble. To propagate it, the long
creeping roots should be cut in lengths of several inches, and to a good
bud or crown. When so cut in the autumn, I have proved them to rot when
planted, but others buried in sand until February, and then planted,
have done well.

Flowering period, May and June.

Polyanthus.

_Nat. Ord._ PRIMULACEAE.

This, with its numerous varieties, comes under _Primula veris_, or the
common Cowslip. The improved varieties which have sprung from this
native beauty of our meadows and hedgerows are innumerable, and include
the rich "gold-laced" kinds--which are cared for like children and are
annually placed on the exhibition