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PRICKLE

1547

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

as too old to take an active part in the Trojan War, and only once appears on the field of battle. The oldest Greek legends are silent respecting his fate; but later poets, like Euripides and Vergil, say that he was slain by Pyrrhos (Neoptolemos) when the Greeks stormed the city.

Pric'kle, a spiny outgrowth, such as those which occur on the stems of roses. They involve not merely the epidermis but more or less of the cortex beneath. See EMERGENCE.

Prim, Juan (hffd-dnf prem), a Spanish statesman, was born at Keuss in Catalonia, Dec. 6, 1814. In 1862 he was appointed to the command of the Spanish forces sent to Mexico, but soon withdrew, his course being approved by the Spanish cortes when his reasons were given. He guided the movement that in 1868 overthrew Queen Isabella. In 1870 he selected Prince Leopold of Hohen-zollern as Spanish king, which Napoleon III made the pretext for his declaration of war against Germany. But as Leopold declined the crown offered to him, Prim prevailed on Duke Amadeo of Aosta, son of King Victor Emmanuel of Italy, to accept it; but, on the day the new king landed in Spain, Prim was shot at Madrid by an assassin, and died on Dec, 30, 1870.

Prim'rose, a general name of species of the primrose family (Primulacecs), but more specially applied to a species of the genus Primula, which includes about 150 species, most of which belong to the northern hemisphere. About 13 species are native to North America. The most common primrose of cultivation is the so-called Chinese

PRIMROSE

primrose (P. sinensis), a downy house-plant with enlarged calyx. The common English cowslip, whose cultivated varieties are known as different kinds of polyanthus, is P. offici-nalis. In the same family belong such forms as the beautiful American cowslip or " shooting-star " and the very similar cultivated Cyclamen.

Prince, a title given to the sons of kings, emperors and other rulers, sometimes with a territorial addition, as Prince of Wales or Prince of Orange. In various parts of continental Europe the title is borne by families

of very high rank, but not possessed of sovereignty; but in England the term is restricted to members of the royal family. In a more general sense the word is often used for any ruler or sovereign.

Prince Albert, capital of the district of Saskatchewan, is 1,402 feet above the sea on the north branch of Saskatchewan River. It lies 249 miles north by rail and somewhat west of Regina on the Canadian Pacific Railway, 30 miles above the junction of the northern and southern branches of the river. Population 4,000.

Prince Edward Island, the garden-province of Canada, is a crescent-shaped island in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and snugly within the curve of the mainland of the two other maritime provinces. It is the smallest but most densely settled of the Canadian provinces. It is 140 miles long, and its width varies from two to 34 miles. The total area is about 2,184 square miles. The indentations of the coast are so numerous and great that no part is far from the sea. In 1534 Cartier called it a " low and beautiful land " — a fitting description, for the chief elevation is a chain of hills crossing it near the middle from New London Bay to De Sable. The sand-dunes, extending for forty miles along the coast, prevent the washing away of the land by the waves. The island, which owes its name to the Duke of Kent, is divided into Prince, Queens and Kings Counties. When laid out, each county was given a site for a capital, with two public domains called royalties and commons. Only two of these prospective towns, Georgetown in Kings and Charlotte town in Queens, became capitals, Summerside being the capital of Prince. The population in 1911 was 93,728— almost wholly of Canadian birth. People of Scotch and English origin predominate. Roman Catholics are the most numerous, then Presbyterians, then Methodists. The island is connected with the mainland during the summer by_ two steam-ferries, one between Summerside and Point du Chene (New Brunswick) and the other between Char-lottetown and Pictou (Nova Scotia). Both tap the insular system of railways and meet spurs of the Intercolonial. In the winter two ice-breaking steamers keep these lines open. The Prince Edward Island Railway covers the island from end to end and taps all prominent towns. The summer climate makes the island a paradise for tourists. Atlantic fogs are practically unknown, because of the sheltering hills of Cape Breton and Newfoundland.

Agriculture is the chief industry, about 80 per cent, of the population being engaged therein. For the new world the province is thoroughly cultivated, 85 per cent, of its area being occupied. The fertile soil is easily enriched by sea-manures. The breeding of live stock for export is carefully fostered. Poultry is raised for the Sydney market,— a