An Encyclopedia of Horticulture. 



147 



Auricula — continued. 

 to night iirotection. It is, perhaps, better to cover every 

 night than to run the risk of exposing the nnespanded 

 flowers to frost, as the effect is very prejudicial ; in fact, 

 if subject to frost, smooth even flowers may not be ex- 

 pected. 



Seed Saving and Sotuing. The only way to obtain new 

 varieties is by seed : hence the value of careful seed- 

 saving will be apparent. Severe discrimination must be 

 exercised in the selection of parents, and the flowers must 

 be very carefully crossed. The anthers should be removed 

 from the pistillate parent, if possible, before expansion, so 

 as to prevent any possibility of self-fertilisation; and, when 

 the stigma is ready, the pollen must be conveyed by means 

 of a small camel's-ha ir brush, care being taken not to mistake 

 the brushes used in different classes. It has been observed 

 in Auriculas that the issue from crossbred seed favours 

 the pollen more than the pistillate parent; hence the neces- 

 sity of selecting good poUen parents. It is best to confine 

 hybridisation to separate classes — i.e., cross a Self with a 

 Self, and a Green-edged variety with another of the same 

 class. The importance of selecting the best in each class 

 scarcely needs suggestion, having regard to constitution as 

 well as the quality of the flowers. The seed should be sown 

 as soon as ripe, or early in March, in well-drained pots, filled 

 with sandy soil, which must be well watered previous to 

 sowing. When this operation is completed, the seed must 

 be lightly covered with coarse sand, a sheet of glass placed 

 over the pot, and the latter stood in the hand glass, where 

 the offsets are rooted. Some of the seedlings will appear 

 in a month, but the bulk from that sown when ripe will not 

 be seen until the following spring ; while others will germi- 

 nate even dui'ing the ensuing summer. The late comers 

 should be particularly cared for, as they frequently pro- 

 duce the best varieties. When the seedlings are large 

 enough, they must be pricked off in pots of sandy boU ; and, 

 when well established, potted off singly into small thumb 

 pots, and afterwards encouraged as judgment suggests. 

 Some growers allow the seedlings to remain in the store 

 pots till they flower, when the best are kept, and those not 

 required disposed of. 



Insect Pests. Green fly are often very troublesome, and 

 should be exterminated as speedily as possible, by tobacco 

 fumigation, or by dipping the plants in a solution of 

 Gishnrst's Compound, or carefrdly prepared Fir-tree OU, 

 all of which are effectual. Many authorities denounce 

 fumigation, while others advocate it. The roots are also 

 attacked by a mealy louse, named Trama auriculw, which 

 clusters about the roots and collar of the plants, sucking 

 nutriment therefrom ; and although, provided they do 

 not attack the collar, they have no greatly prejudicial 

 effect on the plant, yet it is desirable to exterminate 

 them. The only effectual way of accomplishing this is 

 to remove all soil, and thoroughly cleanse the roots 

 and collar in a solution of soft soap, with a little Fir-tree 

 Oil added. Of course, this is most easily managed when 

 repotting ; and, unless the plants are very badly infested, it 

 would not be advisable to run the risk of root washing 

 later in the year. 



Classes. Auriculas are now arranged in five classes, four 

 of which constitute what are known as " show or stage 

 Auriculas," while the other is known by the name of 

 "Alpines." Each class is characterised by special points 

 of distinction, which, in the opinion of the strict "florists" 

 school, it is of the utmost importance to observe; and as 

 there is room for systematists in this, as well as in any 

 other branch of floriculture, we will follow the arrangement 

 usually adopted, and describe the distinguishing features 

 of, and enumerate some of the best varieties in, each class, 

 with their raisers' names attached : 



Green-edged. Outer edge green, or but sparingly dusted with 

 powder ; next, a zone of colour known as the body colour, which 

 varies, the darkest being most esteemed ; both edges of this zone 

 should be even, especially the inner one, but there are few 

 flowers perfect in this respect. Next to tlie body-colour is the 

 paste, which occupies the space between the inner circle of the 



Auricula — continued. 



latter and the throat, this should be pure and dense, with a dis- 

 tinctly circular outline at the throat ; the throat and tube should 

 be bright yellow. Of course, this ideal standard has not yet been 

 reached, as there are supposed defects in all or some sections 

 of the flowers at present known. Leadinft Varieties: Admiral 

 N.\piER (Campbell), Alderman Wisbey (Headlev), Apollo 

 (Beestoni, Champion (Pase), Colonel Taylor (Leigh), Duke 

 OF Wellington (Dick.son), Freedom (Booth), General Neill 

 (Traill), Highland Boy (PoUitt), Imperator (Litton), Lady Ann 

 AVii.BRAHAM (Oliver), Lord Palsierston (Campbell), Lovely 

 Ann (Oliver), Lycurgus (Smith), Prince of Greens (Traill), 

 Prince of Wales (Ashton), 

 Grey-edged. Edge heavily dusted with powder, so as almost 

 to hide the normal green colour ; other ])nints same as the Green- 

 edged varieties. Leading varieties: Alexander Meiklejohn 

 (Kay), Chas. E. Brown (Headley), Complete (Sykes), Conqueror 

 of Europe (Waterhouse), DR. Horner (Read), F. D. Horner 

 (Sinionite), General Bolivar (Smith), George Levick 

 (Walker), George Lightbody (Headley), John Waterston 

 (Cunningham). Lancashire Hero (Lancashire), Richard 

 Headley (Liglitbody), Robert Traill (Lightbody). 

 Wllite-edged. Edge so heavily dusted witli farina as to com- 

 pletely hide the gi-een and give it a ivhite appearance ; the 

 powder frequently as dense as on the paste portion ; other points 

 like the first. Leadiwj varieties: Acme (Read), Anne Smith 

 (Smith), .Arabella (Headley), Beauty (Traill), Bright Venus 

 (Lee), Catherina (Sunmierscales), Conservative (Douglas), 

 Countess of Wilton (Cheetham), Earl Grosvenor (Lee), 

 Favorite (Taylor), Frank Simonite (Simonite), Glory (Taylor), 

 John Simonite (Walker), Ne Plus Ultra (Smith), Regular 

 (Ashworth), Smiling Beauty (Heap), Sylvia (Douglas), TRUE 

 Briton (Hepworth). 

 Selfs. Tube bright yellow, and circular at the top ; paste dense, 

 pure, with an even edge ; all the rest of the flower of one colour, 

 without shades or edging ; any colour holds good. Leading 

 varieties: Apollo (Hay), Blackbird (Spalding), C. J. Perry 

 (Turner), Duke OF Argyle (Campbell), Formosa (Smith), Gari- 

 baldi (Pohlnian), HELEN Lancaster (Pohlman), Lord of Lorne 

 (Campbell), IMazinna (Pohlman), Meteor I'I.aq (Lightbody), 

 Metropolitan (Spalding), Mrs. Douglas (Simonite), Mrs. 

 Sturrock (Martin), Othello (Netherwood), Pizarro (Camp- 

 bell), TOPSY (Kaye). 

 Alpines. Centre golden yellow, or white, and destitute of powder ; 

 body colour various ; edge one-coloured, shading off paler towards 

 the margin. These are much hardier than any of the other 

 classes, and will do well outside in most places. Leading 

 varieties: A. F. Barron (Turner), Beatrice (Turner), Black 

 Prince (Turner), Bronze Queen (Turner), Colonel Scott 

 (Turner), Diadem (Gorton), Duchess of Connaught (Turner), 

 Evening Star (Turner), C^eorge Lightbody (Turner), John 

 Leech (Turner), Mrs. Ball (Turner), Mrs. Dodwell (Turner), 

 Mrs. Llewellyn (Turner), Mrs. Meiklejohn (Meiklejohn), 

 Mrs. Tho»ison (Turner), Queen Victoria (Turner), Rubens 

 (Turner), Sailor Prince (Turner), Selina (Turner), Spangle 

 (Turner), Sydney (Turner), Triumph.ant (Turner). 

 AURICULATE. Having ear-like appendages. 

 AUSTRIAN ROSE. SVe Rosa lutea. 

 AVENA (derivatirn obscure). The Oat. Okd. Gra- 

 minew. A genus of grasses with loose panicles and com- 

 pressed spikelets. Of agricultural importance only, with 

 the following exception, which is an annual of easy culture 

 in ordinary garden soil. Propagated by seeds, sown in 

 spring or autumn. 



A. aterllls (barren). The .Animated Oat. fl. in drooping panicles of 

 large spikelets. h. lift, to 2ft. Barbary, 16W. An elegant plant. 



AVENS. See Geum. 



AVEITUES. In forming an Avenue, the plan must 

 neither be tortuous nor of a " tedious sameness," but a 

 gradually winding line should, above all, be obtained, which 

 must in no way interfere with the view from the house. 

 About 12ft. is the width usually allowed for the road, but 

 this depends upon individual taste or idea — this remark 

 applies to planting in double rows, the trees forming a 

 series of triangles, or in single rows. The distance across 

 the road from one row of trees to those opposite should be 

 at least 24tt. The Lime is extensively used for Avenues 

 on account of its regular growth and the shade it affords. 

 The Cedar of Lebanon is one of the best and most suitable 

 evergreens. The Dutch Elm is used because of its rapid 

 growth, and forms one of the best deciduoua trees for this 

 purpose. The weU-known Horse Chestnut, in sheltered 

 spots, is very ornamental, as is also the Spanish Chestnut ; 

 the latter spreads rapidly. Where immediate effect is 

 required, nothing gives more satisfaction than the AVhite 

 Poplar ; it grows in a wet soil better than anything else. 



