APRIL. 51 



eaten in some countries, and in Catholic lands, 

 are struno: as necklaces and rosaries. 



During this and next month we may see the 

 flowers of the numerous varieties of auricula, 

 (Auricula primula.) Most of them are kept in 

 pots, but some common kinds are found in the 

 garden, blooming beside the early hyacinth 

 and other spring flowers. This flower has 

 received great attention from florists, and in- 

 numerable varieties, differing both in blossoms 

 and foliage from each other, have been the 

 resiUt of their pains. Several volumes have 

 been written solely upon its culture, their 

 authors recommending a great number of 

 modes of treatment. The artisans of Lanca- 

 shire have long been celebrated for the beauty 

 of their auriculas, and Loudon observes, that it 

 is no uncommon thing for a mechanic of that 

 county, who earns from eighteen to thirty 

 shillings per week, to give two guineas for a 

 fresh variety, in order to raise seedUngs from 

 it. This flower was long known as the moun- 

 tain or French cowslip. It deserves its former 

 name, for it blooms above the snows of many 

 alpine regions of Italy, Switzerland, and , Ger- 

 many. It is also found wild in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Astracan. The old botanists 

 termed it bear's ear {Auricula ursi) from the 

 shape of its leaves, and gardeners have many 

 fancifid names for the varieties they have 

 raised. In its wild state the auricula is gene- 

 rally of a red or yellow, sometimes of a purple 

 colour, and occasionally variegated, or scattered 



