THE FLORAL WOELD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 103 



that we commonly use and understand are to the uninitiated scarcely 

 better than a kind of slanj?." jN'ow, I hope before I have done to 

 have a chapter on properties, and to illustrate it, so that it may be 

 useful for any length of time to come ; but I must say a word upon 

 the subject now just as an introduction to the selection I shall offer, 

 to enable the beginner to appreciate the points that a florist must 

 keep in view in estimating the values of auriculas. The reason I 

 bring forward the li^t now is, that the golden moment has arrived 

 for the inspection and comparison of Auriculas ; and if there is any 

 value at all in my list, it will be doubly, trebly valuable in the 

 month of April than in any other month throughout the year. 



What is there in nature more peculiarly noble and beautiful than 

 the disposition of the flowers in a truss borne on a stout pillar, and 

 the rich ground colour of the flowers in a first-rate show variety? 

 Now, one of the most important properties is bold trussing, the pillar 

 stiff" and strong, the pips set out upon its summit symmetricalh-, and 

 enough flowers open at one time to give the truss a rich and com- 

 plete appearance. As to the pips, or individual flowers, they must 

 be flat, stout, circular, quite smooth ; the eye must be circular, the 

 edging must be sharp and pure of its kind; the body colour heavy, 

 velvety, and very clearly defined; and the paste, which is within 

 and surrounding the eye, must be pure and mealy, as if just scraped 

 off a butterfly's wing. But all this we must deal with some day 

 at greater length, for it is of profound importance. Let us now pick 

 out from the long list of named varieties a few that every lover of 

 these beauties must have. 



SELrs. 



LigJithoch/s Meteor Flag. — This always disappoints at first, but 

 surprises at last, does it not so, brother growler of these vegetable 

 jewels ? It opens thin, uneven, and of a dark slate colour, but soon 

 becomes flat, fully expanded, and a glorious violet-blue. Tnere is, 

 perhaps, a little too much colour, but I know not how to beat it in 

 the class of blues. The foliage is mealy, the plant grows well, and 

 forms a noble specimen. 



Martin's Mrs. iStui'rocli. — A really perfect flower, circular, smooth, 

 and flat ; the body colour rich dull maroon-crimson, the paste solid 

 and pure, leaves mealy ; not a strong grower, and not to be depended 

 on for a fine truss. 



Spaldmrfs Blac]:Urd. — A very fine self, with rich and well- 

 painted maroon body colour, superb in shape and paste. Rather 

 weak in the stem, and when not well grown the pips hang, indicating 

 weak footstalks. Yet no one can do without this famous show 

 variety. It is one of the gems of the family. 



Sim's Video n. — In the style of Blackbird, but darker and less 

 perfect in colouring. It makes a fine figure when allowed to carry 

 a great many pips in the truss, say nine to twelve at least, for thin- 

 ning riiins it. 



Smith's Mrs. Smith. — A fine old variety, fiir from perfect, but 

 calculated to delight the beginner, and quite incapable of oftending 

 the most experienced grower. The ground colour is extra dark, a 



