88 FLORA DOMESTICA. 



care — for it is by no means so handsome as many which 

 are less generally regarded. It will bear the open air all 

 the year round : the earth should be kept tolerably moist. 

 Some call it American Laurel. 



AURICULA. 



PRIMULA AURICULA. 



PBIMULACE,E. PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 



Mountain Cowslip, French Cowslip, and Oricolo; but all these 

 names have been superseded by Auricula, by which name it is best 

 known in this country. The old botanical name was auricula ursi 

 [bear's ear], from the shape of the leaves. — French, oreille d'oiu-s. — 

 Italian, orecchio d'orso. 



The Auricula is a native of the mountains of Switzerland, 

 Austria, Styria, Carniola, Savoy, and Piedmont. It flowers 

 in April and May. It is astonishing how greatly it may be 

 improved by cultivation. It has been affirmed that Henry 

 Stow, of Lexden, near Colchester, a noted cultivator of 

 these flowers, had one plant with no less than one hun- 

 dred and thirty-three blossoms upon one stem*. 



The varieties are innumerable ; and they are known 

 by the name of every colour, and combination of colours. 

 Some are named from the persons who first raised them ; 

 others by more fanciful appellations, as the Matron, the 

 Alderman, the Fair Virgin, the Mercury, &c. 



A fine Auricula should have a strong upright stem, of 

 such a height that the flowers may be above the foliage 

 of the plant. The foot stalks should also be strong, and 



* Morant's Colchester (to which Millar refers), page 92. 



