ON AURICULAS 101 



ARTICLE II. 



t)N THE CULTURE OF THE AURICULA, WITH A LIST OF 

 SUPERIOR KINDS. 



BY G. R. 



Having promised to send you a list of the most esteemed varieties 

 of Auriculas which generally appear for competition at the differ- 

 ent society-meetings in this neighbourhood, I now give you 

 the name of a few which may be considered amongst the finest. 

 They will, perhaps, assist some of your readers in selecting a 

 few of the most choice-varieties ; should any of them be about 

 to commence a collection, and will give those who may be other- 

 wise interested, an idea of the plants which are held in the greatest 

 estimation in this quarter. 



Many lists of choice Auriculas contain the names of several the 

 flowers of which have a great tendency to vary from the original 

 colours, from unaccountable causes, and which, by florists are 

 termed sporting varieties. In the same list are found others 

 which are liable to change colour a short time after they are fully 

 expanded. Such flowers may occasionally be considered as fine 

 and might be presented for competition. Their general character 

 however, not being such as to warrant their insertion in the follow- 

 ing select list, I have omitted them. All Auriculas are subject 

 in a great or less degree to present an ununiform appearance of 

 bloom, their flowers in some seasons being much more perfect than 

 in others. The following, when well grown, will be found to have 

 less tendeney to do so than most others. Some growers will, per- 

 haps, find a few of those mentioned, classed differently from what 

 they are accustomed to find the appearance of the plant when in 

 bloom, which in some measure may be thus accounted for. Auri- 

 cula-growers in general, adhere to a compost of their own in many 

 cases differing considerably in its composition, and it therefore 

 may naturally be supposed that the bloom of the plant, in some de- 

 gree will vary accordingly. It being however a difficult matter to 

 decide to what class they should belong, I have classed the follow- 

 ing according to the colour of edging, which I • have generally 

 found them to present. Plants grow in very rich stimulating com- 

 posts, for the purpose of obtaining large high-coloured flowers, 

 certainly produce a beautiful green foliage, strong trusses, and 

 large pips, but the bloom altogether is seldom fine, as being 



