JUNE. 161 



THE AURICULA. 



WITH A REPRESENTATION OF CHAPMAN'S "MARIA." 



(Plate 152.) 



Having been blest with a tolerable supply of arrows to one's 

 quiver, I have never been obliged, save floriculturally, to adopt 

 children of another person, and never having been successful 

 enough to raise a seedling flower that was worth anything, 

 I am not at all sensible of that ecstatic happiness which arises 

 from such a process ; but, I suppose, to be a successful raiser, 

 must excite the same sort of pride as kindles the bosom of 

 " paterfamilias " when some knowing canvasser, who, wishing 

 to secure the vote of the said paterfamilias for the forthcoming 

 election of the town of Bubble-cum-squeak, incontinently begins 

 to praise the dear children ; be that as it may be, I own I 

 should like to be the raiser of such a flower as " Maria," not 

 that it is by any means a perfect Auricula, but there is some- 

 thing so very refined in it, and the colour is of such an inde- 

 scribable character that it must take a high position amongst 

 the lovers of this exquisite flower, and Mr. Chapman may 

 consider himself a fortunate man in being its papa ; and this I 

 say without having any ulterior designs upon Mr. C.'s vote and 

 interest. I might say a great deal about it, might take a leaf 

 out of the book — no, the catalogue of a firm (it shall be name- 

 less, but) which certainly may be styled the George Robins of 

 floriculture ; for, as that well-known auctioneer once arrived 

 (in the puffing of some place he had to sell) at the grand 

 climax, that there were only two disadvantages, the incessant 

 singing of the nightingales and the too powerful odour of the 

 Rose-leaves, so really I should almost be afraid to grow the 

 things which they advertise as novelties, for fear my friends 

 should be so dazzled" as to get an attack of ophthalmia, 

 or be so tempted that I should have continually to be bringing 

 them into the county court for theft. I will not copy the 

 example, for I believe English people do not like this Yankee 

 style of " tall talking," but simply say look at the drawing 

 — though Mr. Andrews, clever artist though he be, can never 

 do justice to the exquisite colouring of the flower. What may 

 be the constitution of the flower, I know not, as I have but 

 the one plant sent me this year by Mr. G. Lightbody ; it seems 

 healthy, though not inclined to produce stock. 



As far as I can judge, the season has been a favourable one 

 for the Auricula, and if such be the case generally, it is evident 

 that a mild winter suits them, and that the directions I 



VOL. XIT., NO. CXXXVIII. M 



