HERBACEOUS FLOWERING PLANTS IN POTS 35 



ripe, it usually germinates well. The plant sometimes called 

 A. variegafum is really Chlorophyiuni elatiini variegatuni 

 (see p. 120). 



Auricula. — This is a species of primula, its botanical 

 name being P, auricula^ but among gardeners it is spoken of 

 merely as auricula. There are several classes, such as Show, 

 and Border or Alpine. The former, which is characterised 

 by a mealy powder (technically known as paste) on the leaves 

 and flowers, is again divided into green-edged, grey-edged, 

 white-edged, and selfs. The Border or Alpine varieties are 

 the hardier, and the easier to manage. They are of nearly 

 all colours. The seed germinates much sooner and much 

 more regularly if it is sown as soon as it is ripe. When it is 

 held over until the following March, some of it may lie 

 dormant for months. It should be sown in pots or boxes of 

 very light, firm soil, and should be treated as advised for 

 annuals. Before the seedlings begin to crowd one another 

 they should be transferred separately to small pots, which 

 should not be exposed to strong sunshine. If the stems are 

 buried, they are almost certain to decay when in contact with 

 damp soil. Only the base from which the roots spring should 

 be below the surface. During the summer a north aspect is 

 the most suitable. The plants should not be allowed to get 

 quite dry at any time ; but, of course, they need very much 

 less water in winter than in spring, when they are growing. 

 At the commencement of the growing period some of the 

 old top soil should be removed and replaced by fresh, rich 

 soil, and, if additional plants are wanted, any rooted offsets 

 may be taken off and potted separately. An artificial fertiliser 

 will benefit them when they show their flower-buds. The 

 chief pests of auriculas are greenfly (aphis), and a mealy 

 louse which attacks the roots (see illustration of Maidenhair 

 Fern, p. 23), while there is a fungoid disease which causes 

 the lower part of the stem and the roots to decay. Greenfly 

 can be destroyed by sponging with any of the insecticides on 

 the market — strong soap suds will do — and afterwards washing 

 it off with clean water ; vaporite will get rid of the mealy 

 louse ; and for the fungoid disease, the removal of the decayed 



