220 THE FLOWER-GARDEN. [CHAP. VIIL 



flower is called pin-eyed, and is esteemed of 

 little value by florists. The culture of the auri- 

 cula, when it is to be grown as a prize flower, 

 demands a degree of care and attention that no 

 one but a professed florist would think it worth 

 his while to bestow. The great points appear to 

 be, to make the soil as rich as possible, using 

 the strongest manures ; to let the pots be very 

 well drained, by placing about an inch and a 

 half deep of broken pot-sherds in each pot; and 

 to keep the plants well and regularly watered. 

 When the flowers expand, they are generally 

 shaded with square pieces of board, tin, or 

 pasteboard, supported by a stick just over the 

 flower, so as. to shelter it from the direct in- 

 fluence of the sun, but to admit a free current 

 of air, and sufficient light. This precaution is 

 said to improve the clearness and intensitv of 

 the colours, which otherwise are apt to become 

 dull and clouded. Those persons who grow 

 auriculas for sale generally show them on what 

 is called a bloomino'-staoe, and shade them with 

 an awning like that used for a tulip bed. The 

 plants are propagated by offsets, or by dividing 

 the root; and new varieties are continually being 

 raised from seed. Auriculas are occasionally 

 double or semi-double, but these varieties are 

 considered by florists very far inferior to the 

 single kinds. 



The Polyanthus is of the same genus as the 

 auricula, and of the same species as the prim- 

 rose. It is, however, a very distinct variety of 

 the last; and it is said to take its name of 

 polyanthus, which signifies many-flowered, 

 from its producing its flowers in trusses like 



