398 



JOURNAL OF HOBTIOULTDBE AND COTTAGE GABDENEK. 



[ May 21, 1874. 



among these there are those wanting in the glo-ring colours of 

 the new ones, the majority are equal to, if they do not excel, 

 the latter in innocence and beauty. 



Omphalodes verna, or Venus's Navelwort, has been intro- 

 duced into this country over two hundred years, and is one 

 of those lovely flowers which, if seen in perfection, is not 

 easily forgotten. It is a hardy herbaceous perennial ; its 

 leaves resemble those of the Violet in shape, but I think have 

 a rougher surface, and are larger. Its flowers resemble those 

 of a Forget-me-not, but are of a much brighter colour ; they 

 are produced in loose spikes just aboce the light green foliage 

 during March and April. The whole plant when in flower 

 does not exceed 6 inches in height, and is therefore easily over- 

 grown by other more vigorous plants, which may account for 

 its dwindling almost out of existence in many places where 

 there was once a good stock. Such, I may say, was the case 

 at this place (Vinters), but I found one small plant with a 

 flower on it twelve months ago nestled in between two rocks 

 nearly overgrown with Ivy, and where the crumbling dust 

 from the rocks appeared to be the only means by which it ex- 

 isted. A little light earth scattered round it induced it to root 

 more freely, and after it had done flowering the foliage grew 

 vigorously; it ripeued-off eight buds or crowns, and these 

 were divided and planted on the shady side of a wall on a dry 

 bank, and afterwards transferred to the rookery, which I con- 

 sider is the plant's most appropriate place. There it has 

 flowered well, and in due time I shall divide the plants again, 

 and continue in this way until I obtain a good stock. 



The plant delights in partial shade and a light well-drained 

 or shallow soil, such as leaf mould and loam. When placed 

 in the recesses of rockwork, take care that the rain do not 

 wash any of the earth from its roots ; nor must we allow the 

 roots of other plants to penetrate that particular spot, though 

 the branches may overhang a little, but not so much as to 

 obstruct the light if they do the sun. The plant will also 

 thrive under the shade of trees and shrubs provided the soU 

 is light and dry. I have heard of its being used for spring- 

 garden beds, and should like to learu from those who have 

 tried it how it answers. — Thojias Becobd. 



AURICULA CULTURE. 



Dnr.iNG the last ten years I have read with great pleasure 

 the articles on this flower in The Jouknal of Horticulture 

 by " D., Deal." I have turned over the old volumes, and read 

 and re-read them ; they contain a fund of practical informa- 

 tion of the utmost value to the cultivator. Equally welcome 

 have been the lucid articles by theEev. F. D. Horner. His re- 

 port of the National Auricula Show at Manchester last year 

 was of great value, as he gave the names of the best flowers 

 in the different classes, so that growers know what to purchase. 

 I have been anxiously looking for his promised report for this 

 season. 



Not only the Auricula, but many more of the beautiful and 

 interesting old florists' flowers are still sadly neglected. It 

 will always be necessary to grow " bedding " plants ; but if 

 a Uttlfi of the attention which is at present btrstowed on Zonals, 

 shrubby Calceolarias, Ac , were devoted to Auriculas, Picotees, 

 Carnations, and Pinks, it would be mflch more satisfactory to 

 all concerned. When the large horticultural societies can see 

 their way to offer adequate prizes for them they will be ex- 

 hibited, and the horticultural public will then have an oppor- 

 tunity to see them. The National Auricula Society is bringing 

 the Auricula to the front in the midland counties ; and in the 

 neighbourhood of London the Metropolitan Society, of which 

 the Eev. H. H. Dombrain is the Honorary Secretary, offers 

 small prizes at the London shows. Of course, if more ex- 

 hibitors would come forward better prizes would be offered, 

 and the interest would be much increased. It is certain that 

 one of the best ways to make flowers popular is to bring them 

 forward at the exhibitions, so that a great number of persons, 

 who would not be able to do so if they were not exhibited, may 

 have an opportunity of seeing them. 



Others do not take to the Auricula because they believe it is 

 a difficult plant to manage, but such is not the case; any in- 

 telligent gardener who can grow other plants well can grow 

 this, and it would be much better to follow the dictates of 

 common sense than it would be to conform to the directions 

 handed down to us by the old florists. No one knowing any- 

 thing of the physiology of plants would use a compost like the 

 foUowintr, renommenHedbvF.mniertnn : — " Three barrowfulsof 

 goose dung steepedin blood from the butcher's, three barrowfuls 



of sugar-bakers' scum, two barrowfuls of fine yellow loam," or 

 the following : — " Two barrowfuls of goose dung steeped in 

 blood, two barrowfuls of scum, two barrowfuls of night soil, and 

 two of yellow loam." Pot any plant, even the grossest feeder, 

 in a compost of which three-fourths are the richest manure, 

 and one-fourth loam, I am perfectly satisfied that it would 

 not do nearly so well as it would if the component parts were 

 reversed — viz., the three parts loam and the one part manure. 

 Such treatment reminds one of Falstaff's account at the Boar's 

 HeadTavern, Eastcheap, where the items were — acapon, 2s. 2d. ; 

 sauce, 4<i.; sack two gallons, 5s. Sd. ; sack after supper, 2s. 6<J. ; 

 bread, a halfpenny. Emmerton also says that the compost 

 he recommends " gives life and vigour to the plants, as much 

 as fine old port or rich Madeira wine does to the human con- 

 stitution." Modern scientific research has conclusively proved 

 that both statements are fallacious. The human constitution 

 is better treated with water than wine, and Auriculas thrive 

 better when the compost is good loam with the addition of a 

 little rotted manure, than when the compost is strong manure 

 with the addition of a little loam. We know more about the 

 culture of plants than the growers of fifty years ago did, 

 and if we did " go in " for Auriculas, we would in the course 

 of a few years show what could be done with these fine old 

 flowers. 



Perhaps the greatest hindrance to their culture is the diffi- 

 culty of obtaining the best sorts. I have tried north and south 

 for sorts that were not uncommon a quarter of a century ago, 

 but they cannot be obtained now for " love nor money." Where 

 is there a better white-edged flower than Taylor's Glory, but 

 who can supply plants of it ? I cannot get it, and yet most of 

 the old growers have plants. .John Waterston, Smiling Beauty, 

 and Catherina are classed as white edges, but none of them are 

 so pure as Glory. The Green-edged sorts are also very scarce. 

 Booth's Freedom, Page's Champion, Col. Taylor, and Star of 

 Bethlehem : who has those for sale ? Grey-edged sorts and 

 Selfs are more common. Amongst the Greys, " D., Deal," 

 places George Lightbody at the head of the list. It is doubt- 

 less the best from a florist's point of view, but there are other 

 things to be considered, such as freedom of growth and effect 

 either on the home stage or for exhibition. Col. Champneys 

 (Turner), is, I believe, the freest and most effective Auricula 

 we have. The ground colour runs into the edge a httle, but no 

 one would know that this was a fault unless some old florist 

 were to tell him so. We have another type in Sims's Vulcan, 

 a dark Self. It is not a florist's flower because it is fringed, 

 but Mr. Dombrain showed it with a beautiful truss at the 

 Eoyal Botanic Society's Show, and I think that the prettily- 

 fringed edge added to its beauty. With it was Pizarro, a very 

 beautiful smooth-edged Self, probably the best in the ex- 

 hibition. This was also charming in its way, and one did not 

 seem to wish to see it with a fringed edge. The Alpines have 

 been much praised ; they are easily grown and are brilliant, 

 but there is a greater sameness amongst them than there is 

 amongst the Selfs. There is nothing amongst the Alpines at 

 all equal to such flowers as Blackbird, C. J. Perry, Lord Clyde, 

 Master Hole, Mrs. Sturrook, and Spalding's Metropolitan. 



As to culture, I use turfy loam with a little leaf mould and 

 rotted cow or stable manure added to it. Eiver sand is also 

 necessary to keep the compost open. The Auricula is also 

 very impatient of sunshine, either in or out of flower. An 

 hour's exposure to direct sunshine in a hot day about the end 

 of April would spoil their beauty. As soon as they are in 

 flower it is best to remove the frames with the plants to a wall 

 facing north ; and here also the plants should remain until 

 early in October. The best growers recommend May as the 

 most suitable time to pot the plants. I have potted our little 

 collection, using smaller pots than are usually recommended. 

 I found that some weakly plants were overpotted last year, and 

 did not succeed so well as those that were in smaller pots. 

 Perfect drainage I hold to be indispensable ; some rough ma- 

 terial should be placed over the potsherds to prevent the 

 soil from mixing with them. 



As respects the varieties to cultivate, from what has been 

 exhibited during the past season and what I have seen in our 

 own collection, the best are : — 



Green-cdfied. — Admiral Napier. Alderman Wisbey, Apollo 

 (Hudson), Duke of Wellington (Dickson), Imporator (Litton), 

 Mayflower (Traill), Lovely Ann (OUver). 



G)-(';/-cd(7('(i.—Britannia(Smith), Alderman 0. Brown (Headly), 

 Colonel Champneys (Turner), Competitor (Turner), Conqueror 

 of Europe (Waterhouse), George Lightbody (Headlv). Mary 

 Ann (Fletcher), Matilda (Dickson), Ne^Plus Ultra (Fletcher), 



