ON THE AURICULA, — ITS CULTURE, PROPERTIES, ETC. 125 



fusion of double flowers, very superior to what would have been the 

 effect if the plant had been allowed to expand its blossom while yet 

 in its infant state. The Schizanthus and most annuals may be much 

 improved by removing the first flower-buds. The cultivator will be 

 amply repaid by sowing them (annuals) early in August, pinching 

 off any flowers that may be produced the same year, and thus trans- 

 ferring them to the biennial list. Lobelias, particularly Cardinalis, 

 Fulgens, and the beautiful Ignea, by having the centre shoot pinched 

 out, will produce a number of laterals, clothed with elegant flowers 

 for nearly their whole length, instead of one long and almost flower- 

 less stem. Pentstemon Gentianoides, Coccineas, Campanula Pyra- 

 midalis, and a variety of the like plants, are subject to the same 

 remark. The Erysimum Peroffskianum is a striking instance of this 

 treatment ; if left to flower its centre shoot, although the novel colour, 

 under any treatment, renders it pretty, it will, nevertheless, have a 

 straggling appearance ; but let this be pinched out, and the con- 

 sequent radiation of shoots will display a dense patch of rich and 

 dazzling flowers. Many bulbs, as Hyacinths, Tulips, &c, after 

 having been grown in rooms, in glasses and flower-pots, are reduced 

 to a state of great degeneracy ; if these be planted in the free soil, and 

 deprived of the languid flowers that will be produced the succeeding 

 year, the bulbs will be invigorated, and thus prepared to flower well 

 every alternate year, so long as this treatment be continued. To 

 enumerate all the flowering plants that might be improved by a 

 judicious removal of the early flower-buds would be a recapitulation 

 of nearly the whole vocabulary of plants. Thus having redeemed my 

 promise and responded to your invitation, I trust I have said enough 

 to induce inquiry, and feel assured that investigation will lead to a 

 more general practice of depriving plants of their premature flower- 

 buds. 



ARTICLE III. 



ON THE AURICULA,— ITS CULTURE, PROPERTIES, ETC. 



BY MR. WILLIAM HARRISON, 

 SECRETARY TO THE FELTON FLORISTS* SOCIETY, 



{Concluded from No. 99, j>. 106.) 

 Nothing can exceed the beauty of the foliage of the Auricula at this 

 stage of its annual progress. The leaves are of the purest green, and 



