Plate 539. 



ALPINE AURICULAS— QUEEN VICTORIA 

 AND MERCURY. 



The past season, owing to the exertions of the MetropoUtan 

 Floral Society, has witnessed a larger number of Auriculas 

 placed for competition at the Royal Horticultural Society tlian 

 on any ]>revious occasion, and this although the season was by 

 no means a favourable one for them. The excessive drought 

 of last summer told severely on plants which, like the Auricula, 

 rejoice in a moist and cool temperature. The constant water- 

 ing so deprived the soil of its goodness, that in some instances 

 repotting a second time was resorted to. 



Although some fine and promising new plants of Mr. 

 Headly's raising were exhibited amongst show Auriculas, yet 

 we have preferred figuring two of Mr. Turner's beautiful strain 

 of Alpines. They are more likely to be generally useful, as 

 they are more easily grown, and more quickly propagated than 

 those called show varieties. 



Queen Victoria (fig. 1) is a flower of fine properties, the colour 

 a rich plum ; while the pa^te is nearly white, instead of the 

 3^ellow colour which is generally characteristic of the class. 

 Mercury (fig. 2) is of a rich maroon colour, fine shape and 

 substance, with a rich golden-yellow paste. Mr. Turner, of 

 Slough, who exhibited them, has also a large number of 

 varieties of fine character. 



