124 VILLA GARDENING part i 



are fine for cutting, and they are also of a manageable size in the 

 border. 



Summer-flotvering Chrysanthemums. — This is a comparatively 

 new race, whose numbers are now considerable, and they are ex- 

 ceedingly useful both as liorder plants and also for pot culture. 

 They begin flowering in July and continue till autumn. There 

 is no difficulty in their cultivation, and I think they are destined 

 to become very popular. Aureole, crimson, tipped lemon ; Cassy, 

 rose ; Curiosity, lilac ; Delphine Caboche, purplish rose ; Frederick 

 Pele, red ; Golden Button, yellow ; La Nymph, rosy purple ; Le 

 Luxembourg, bronze; Lucinda, white and lilac; Madame Des- 

 grange, creamy white ; Mdlle. Jolivart, peach ; Scarlet Gem, 

 scarlet ; Souvenir d'un Ami, white. 



The Auricula. — I have condensed these remarks upon hardy 

 florists' flov.'crs into as small a compass as possible, not because the 

 subject was unworthy of more extended treatment, but rather 

 because I did not wish to trench upon the proper domain of the 

 specialist. I hope I have said enough to convince those of my 

 readers who have not yet taken up the cultiu-e of these extremely 

 interesting families of plants, that there is a wide field open for 

 the display of their talents and energies. And those among them 

 who want to go farther than this Ixjok takes them can apply to 

 the various published treatises for fuller information. But after 

 all there are things in the cvdture of plants which cannot be learned 

 from a treatise, however exhaustive it may be in its treatment. 

 Many useful and suggestive hints may be obtained from books — 

 even bad ones have their uses in this respect ; but still experience is 

 the best teacher, though in some respects it may be an expensive 

 one, unless guided and controlled by what, for want of a better 

 term, is called common sense. 



The Soil for Auriculas, Polyanthuses, and the Primula family 

 generally should be of a loamy nature, medium in quality — that 

 is, not light nor yet heavy, and it shoiUd be enriched with old 

 cow manure in proportion to its quality ; from a fourth to a third 

 will generally give good results. Some people in preparing their 

 compost, when the loam is carted home, pack it up in a ridge with 

 proportionate layers of cow manure in the loam. When this has 

 been laid up six months it will, when broken up, grow in the 

 highest state of perfection all the families treated of under the 

 heading " Hardy Florists' Flowers." 



Culture in Pots. — Auriculas of the highest class are usually 

 grown in pots in frames, on a stage erected some distance from the 

 ground in winter to ensure a free circulation of air — the best anti- 

 dote to damp. But whether grown in frames, low pits, or houses. 



