AN ENCYCLOPEDIA OF HORTICULTURE. 



147 



Auricula conlinved, 



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

 night than to run the risk of exposing the nnexpanded 

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

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

 pected. 



Seed Soring and Sowing. 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 xmdj, the pollen must be conveyed by means 

 of a small camel's-hair brash, care being taken not to mistake 

 the brashes 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 

 sity of selecting good pollen parents. It is best to 

 hybridisation to separate classes i., 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 during 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 soil ; 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 

 Gishurst's Compound, or carefully prepared Fir-tree Oil, 

 all of which are effectual. Many authorities denounce 

 fumigation, while others advocate it The roots are also 

 attacked by a mealy louse, named Trama auriculae, 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 

 raries, the darkest being most esteemed ; both edges of this cone 

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

 flowers perfect b this respect Next to the body-colour is th 

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



X (Pa-eX COLONEL TAYU>R(5b*X 

 ieksonX FEKBBOM (BoothX GoSuL" 



(BeestooX CHAMPION 



OF WELLINGTON (DicksonX FREEDOM (Booth 

 (TraillX HIGHLAND BOT (PollittX IMPERATOR 

 WILBRAHAM (OlirerX LORD PALMERSTO.X rt 

 Axs (OlirerX LTCURGUS (SmithX PRINCE OF 

 PRINCE OF WALES (AshtonX 



GreiHMlced. Edge heavily dusted with powder, so as 

 to hide the normal green colour ; other points same as the 

 edged varieties. ead*0 varieties: ALEXANDER " 

 (KayX Cms. E. BROWS (HeadleyX COMPLETE 

 OP EUROPE (WaterhouseX DR. HORNER (R< 



(SimoniteX GENERAL BOLIVAR (SmithX GEORGE LEVICK 

 (WalkerX GEORGE LIGRTBODT (HeadleyX JOHN WATERSTON 

 HERO (LancashireX RICHARD 

 TRAILL (LightbodyX 



. Edge so heavily dusted with farina as to com- 

 the green 



LIGRTBODT 

 LANCASHIRE 

 (LigfatbodyX ROBERT TRAILL (LightbodyX 



green and give it a white appearance; 



iwwaer frequently as dense as on the paste portion ; other poinU 

 like the first Leadimff varieties: ACME (ReadX ANNE SMITH 

 (SmithX ARABELLA (HeadleyX BEAUTY (TraillX BRIGHT VENUS 

 (LeeX CATHERINA (SumnierscalesX CONSERVATIVE (Douglas). 

 COUNTESS OF WILTON (CbeethamX EARL GROSVENOR (LeeX 

 FAVORITE (TaylorX FRANK SiMONiTE(SimoniteX GLORY (TavlorX 

 JOBS SIMONITE (WalkerX NE PLUS ULTRA (SmithX REGULAR 

 (AshworthX SMILING BEAUTY (Heap), SYLVIA (DougUsX TRUE 

 BRITON (HepworthX 



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

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

 without shades or edging ; any colour holds good. Leadw 

 varieties: APOLLO (llayX BLACKBIRD (SpaldingX C. J. PERRT 

 (TurnerX DIKE OP ARGYLE (CainpbellX FORMOSA (SmithX GARI- 

 BALDI (PohlmanX HELEN LANCASTER (PohhnanX LORD OF LORNB 

 (CampbellX MAZIKNA (PohlmanX METEOR FLAG (LaghtbodyX 

 METROPOLITAN (SpaldingX MRS. DOUGLAS (SimouiteX MRS. 

 STURROCK (MartinX OTHELLO (NetherwoodX PIZARRO (Camp- 

 bellX TOPSY (KayeX 



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 X BEATRICE (TurnerX BLACK 

 PRINCE (TurnerX BRONZE QUEEN (TuroerX COLONEL SCOTT 

 (TurnerX DIADEM (GortonX DUCHESS OK CONNAUGHT (TurnerX 

 EVENING STAR (TurnerX GEORGE LIGHTBODY (TurnerX JOHN 

 LEECH (Turner), MRS. BALL (TurnerX MRS. DODWELL (TurnerX 

 MRS. LLEWELLYN (TurnerX MRS. MEIKLEJOHN (Meiklejohn). 

 MRS. THOMSON (TuruerX QUEEN VICTORIA (TurnerX RUBENS 

 (TurnerX SAILOR PRINCE (TurnerX SEUNA (TurnerX SPANGLE 

 (Turner), SYDNEY (TurnerX TRIUMPHAAT (TurnerX 

 AURICULATE. Having ear-like appendages. 

 AUSTRIAN ROSE. See Rosa lutea. 

 A VENA (derivatijn obscure). The Oat. OBD. Gm- 

 minetf. 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, sterilU (barrenX The Animated Oat JL in drooping panicles of 

 large spikelets. A. lift, to 2ft. Barbary. 1MO. An elegant plant 



AVENS. See Genm. 



AVENUES. 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 24ft 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 deciduous trees for this 

 purpose. The well-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 White 

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



