102 THE FLORIST. 



As there are Auriculas of all colours, they are generally divided 

 into three classes, viz. the pure, or self-coloured ; the flaked, or 

 striped, with two colours; the bizarrs, of several colours mixed. 

 All true connoisseurs agree that, to the forming perfectly a good 

 Auricula, several qualities and properties are absolutely requisite. 



I shall now give my readers the best idea I can of them. 



1st. The green leaves, commonly called the grass, should be of 

 a moderate size, and rather bent than straight ; when they are too 

 large and upright, the stem of the flower is hid, and sometimes the 

 flower itself. 



2dly. The pedicle, or footstalk of the flower ought to be 

 strong, and able to support the truss when the flowers that form 

 it are fully open. 



3dly. The blossoms, or pips, should be round, flat, and composed 

 of at least six equal leaves, and so joined as not to look like the sails 

 of a windmill. This would render them despicable, and fit to be 

 thrown aside ; as are also the very pointed and starry flowers. 



4thly. The pips should be at least an inch wide. This is still 

 too little for certain florists, who seem to put the whole merit of an 

 Auricula in its size ; for the sake of which they will forgive many 

 faults which the understanding curious always look upon as insup- 

 portable. 



othly. The leaves of the flower ought to be full and thick ; 

 should look like velvet or satin, shining or transparent. 



6thly. The flower ought to lay itself well to the sight ; for 

 which purpose the flower-stalk, commonly called the finger, being 

 what supports the pip, should neither be too weak nor too long ; 

 the weak one bends under the weight of the flower, and lets it drop ; 

 when the flower- stems are too long, though strong, they generally 

 straggle, and cause the truss to widen so much as to appear very 

 unsightly. 



7thly. The bottom (or what the English call the eye) should 

 be large ; but, however, proportioned to the size of the whole flower, 

 round, clear, and should not in any manner participate with the 

 margin or self-colour. 



Sthly. That cut, or division, which parts every leaf of the pip 

 should by no means enter into the eye (or bottom). This is a gross 

 fault, and generally not enough attended to by the florists. 



9thly. The bottom (or eye) of the pure and flaked Auriculas 

 should be without powder ; some of these flowers lose it in three or 

 four days. To assist them in throwing it off", you should allow them 

 to blow in the sun and rain. Some take it off with a fine soft pencil 

 dipped in water ; but this is not the best way. 



1 Othly. Every flower should be furnished with little spangles, 

 like gold sand (which the Flemmings call penicles, others pistills, or 

 rosettes ; but in England we know them by the name of thrums) ; 

 and these should be full, and ranged in good order. 



llthly. Every flower should preserve its colour until it dies. 

 A good flower should never crumple, or be ragged at the edges. 



That flower can never be good that blows in the shape of a trum- 



