JULY. 14; 



THE AURICULA. 



Our present illustration represents a beautiful self Auricula, 

 raised by Mr. James Maltby of Oxford, from Fieldhouse's Fair 

 Rosamond. It was first shewn in 1851 ; it was also exhibited 

 and placed first in 1852 and 1853, in competition with Othello, 

 Blue Bonnet, Berry's Lord Primate, Admiral of the Blues, 

 Nonsuch, and other leading varieties. It is a steady flower, 

 of the finest form of any we know in any class. On each 

 spring show- day on which we have visited Oxford, we have 

 been more gratified with Mr. Maltby's flower than with the 

 collections of named kinds. 



Mr. Maltby's plan of growing the Auricula does not differ 

 materially from that generally adopted. Good sweet turfy- 

 loam, well- decomposed rotten manure, silver-sand, with a 

 little leaf-mould, are all that are wanted : we do not approve 

 of such stimulants as are recommended and used by some. 

 A moderately rich soil will grow them quite strong enough, 

 and keep the stock in better health than if richer material 

 was employed. Plain pure soil, and the most simple treat- 

 ment is adopted here with the most satisfactory results. For 

 the last three seasons our bloom has been more vigorous than 

 is often seen in any part of the country, more particularly in 

 any part near the metropolis. Among varieties more espe- 

 cially fine may be mentioned Beeston's Apollo, Cheetham's 

 Lancashire Hero, Ne-plus- ultra, Page's Champion, Complete, 

 Ringleader, Glory, Bolivar, Lovely Ann, Duke of Cambridge, 

 Matilda, Duke of Wellington, Conqueror of Europe, Fair 

 Flora, Freedom, Britannia, King James, Lord Lynedoch, 

 Sir John Moore, Lady Jane Grey, Privateer, Smiling Beauty, 

 Stapleford Hero, Sophia, True Briton, Unique, and Surprise. 

 We have not attempted to classify them. Many of the green- 

 edges and grey-edges would do for either class ; it is of little 

 use to make a distinction when there is scarcely any dif- 

 ference. 



It will be seen that there are but few new varieties ; it is 

 therefore with the greater pleasure that we present our readers 

 with an exact likeness of Mr. Maltby's fine flower, which we 

 feel assured will find its way into every collection. 



NEW SERIES, VOL. III. NO. XXXI. O 



