is being added to year by year.
The generic name is in allusion to a quality--that of early or first
flowering. The specific name, _acaulis_, is in reference to its
stemlessness, which is its main distinguishing feature from the
Polyanthus and Oxlip (_P. veris_). I may add, that from the great
variety of _P. acaulis_ and _P. veris_, and their mutual resemblance in
many instances, the casual observer may often find in this feature a
ready means by which to identify a specimen. Of course, there are other
points by which the different species can be recognised, even when the
scape is out of sight, but I am now speaking of their general likeness
to each other in early spring.

Common Cowslips or Paigles (_P. veris_), great Cowslips or Oxlips (_P.
elatior_), field primrose or large-flowered primrose (_P. acaulis_),
were all in olden times called by the general name of primrose, the
literal meaning of which is first-rose. Old authorities give us many
synonymous names for this plant, as _P. grandiflora_, _P. vulgaris_, _P.
sylvestris_, and _P. veris_. The last is given by three authorities,
including Linnaeus. As this seems to clash hard with the name as applied
to the Cowslip species, I may at once state that Linnaeus has only that
one name for the three species, viz: _P. acaulis_, _P. elatior_, _P.
veris_; the name _P. vulgaris_, by another authority, is explained by
the same rule; Curtis (_Flora Londinensis_) is the authority for the
name _P. acaulis_.

I need not here go into any of the varieties, beyond giving a cursory
glance at them as a whole. The double kinds are all beautiful, some
superb and rare, as the ruby and crimson; the white, sulphur, mauve,
magenta, and other less distinct double forms are more easily grown, and
in some parts are very plentiful. The single kinds have even a more
extensive range in colour. We have now fine reds and what are called
blue primrose; the latter variety is not a blue, but certainly a near
approach to it. It is an interesting occupation to raise the coloured
primroses from seed, not only because of the pleasing kinds which may be
so obtained, but under cultivation, as in a wild state, seedlings are
always seen to be the more vigorous plants; self-sown seed springs up
freely on short grass, sandy walks, and in half-shaded borders; but when
it is sought to improve the strain, not only should seedlings be
regularly raised, but it should be done systematically, when it will be
necessa