Al R I ( TLA. 207 



>tage. In these towns a rivalship generally prevails 

 as to who shall rear the finest spceimen of this plant, 

 which instead of dissension, produces social neigh- 

 bourhood, and exchange of civilities, for it is 



A fair ambition, void of strife or guile, 

 Or jealousy, or pain to be outdone. 



But great delight it gives to the happy cultivator 



who shows 



The earliest bloom, the sweetest, proudest charms 

 Of Flora. 



Armstrong. 



It is recorded in the history of this plant, that 

 Mr. Henry Stow, a gardener near Colchester, 

 reared, previously to the year 1768, some plants of 

 Auricula that produced one hundred and thirty- 

 three blossoms on one stem ; and in the year 1821, 

 an extraordinary flower of this kind was gathered 

 in the garden of Mr. Tanby, of Bath : it had eight 

 distinct stalks, combined in one flat stem, completely 

 incorporated together, and bearing a calyx contain- 

 ing one hundred and seven petals ; but this would 

 be considered rather a singular than a perfect 

 flower. 



Lancashire is at present the most celebrated part 

 of the country for fine Auriculas, and from thence 

 most of the florists in the neighbourhood of London 

 are supplied. About a century ago, when this 

 flower was more in fashion in England than at pre- 



