194 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



taken not to overpot tliem ; as a rule, a GO-sized pot is plenty 

 large enough for the strongest yearling plant, but good examples of 

 strong-growing varieties may be allowed 54;'s, a very useful size 

 for them to flower in the next season. 



This is a good time, also, to sow auricula seeds. Nay, it is the 

 best time, for if properly sown and properly kept, a very large pro- 

 portion of them will sprout next spring, and some few may start in 

 the coming autumn. It is not generally known that seed of show 

 auriculas will remain dormant for twelve months, or even for two 

 years, and at last every seed will sprout. I once tried to count the 

 seed before I sowed it, and the plants that ultimately grew in the 

 pan. I failed in both attempts ; my patience was nnequal to the 

 task ; but I felt sure that very few out of a thousand perished, and 

 I allowed eighteen months from the time of sowing ere I ceased to 

 expect any more seedling plants. jSTo place is so good for the seed- 

 pans as a cold frame, because of the protection aiforded against 

 vermin and accidents ; but the best pans of seedlings I have ever 

 had were in pans that stood on a wall, exposed to all weathers, and 

 that were actually not touched from the day I sowed the seeds, 

 some time in July, until the day I took the pan down in order to 

 prick out some of the most thriving plants, some time in the month 

 of Mav following. But then I have not been always so fortunate. 

 I have, after sharp winter weather, found these seed-pans well 

 scratched, as if a robin had searched in them for a worm — or it 

 might be a playful pussy. At other times an ofEcious gardener has 

 taken the pans off the wall, and thrown out what he called the 

 " stale mould," in order to sow seeds of stocks, or something else of 

 the kind. The sort of pang experienced when such an event occurs 

 is too awful to be dwelt upon, but I hint at the risks the " best" 

 mode is subject to as a warning. If I could be sure of safety, I 

 would now sow my seeds in a silky yellow loam, and cover them 

 nearly a quarter of an inch deep, and place the pans on a wall, or 

 on any other hard surface, fully exposed to all weathers, and leave 

 them wholly to the care of nature. But as there is no certainty of 

 safety, the cold frame is to be preferred, and the soil should be kept 

 constantly moist and shaded until the plants appear. 



The bloom in 1868 was generally good, but unusually early. I 

 have no reason to complain, especially as I had beautiful trusses on 

 several sorts that are usually fitful in temper and difficult to manage. 

 I was particularly pleased with LigJithodifs Sir John Moore, this 

 season, and because of its fine quality I selected it for the figure 

 which accompanies this article. This is a bold green-edged flower, 

 of a pleasing appearance. When at its best with me, this season, 

 its form was quite equal to the drawing here given, and the colours 

 were laid on with the most delightful regularity. This flower has a 

 pure, solid paste, and a large clear yellow thrum. It usually pro- 

 duces a large truss, and is rather early in attaining full development. 

 Other fine varieties of the green-edged class are Dickson's JDtcIce of 

 Wellington, a very pure and striking flower; Smith's Lycurgus, one 

 of the grandest of the class. Camj^helVs Admiral J^apier and 

 TrailVs General Havelock are also desirable. In the grey-edged 



