Encyclopaedia of Gardening 25 



in early summer, is the most useful, as it can be used for the rock 

 garden. It may be propagated by cuttings in a cold frame, sandy 

 soil being used. 



Astrantia (astran-tia, from astron, star, and anti, comparison, 

 alluding to the arrangement of the umbels. Ord. Umbelliferae). 

 Hardy herbaceous perennials, thriving in ordinary well-drained, 

 friable soil, and propagated by division in spring. Carniolica, with 

 white, and major, with striped, flowers are perhaps the most 

 esteemed. 



Aubrietia, Rock Cress (aubrie-tia, after M. Aubriet. Ord. Cruci- 

 ferae). Splendid dwarf hardy plants for the rock garden, and for 

 carpeting and margining beds. They are evergreen, form dense 

 tufts, and are in flower most of the year. Easily raised from seed 

 in June and planted in autumn. Any soil. Dr. Mules, Leichtlinii, 

 Campbelli (syn. Hendersoni) rosea, Fire King, Lavender, H. Marshall, 

 Lloyd Edwards, argentea variegata, and Prichard's A i are good. 

 See also Flower Garden Rockery. 



Aucuba (au-cuba, from the Japanese. Ord. Cornaceae). Useful 

 evergreen, marbled-leaf shrubs, which will grow in almost any soil, 

 in sun or shade, in town or country, 

 and bear abundance of beautiful 

 berries if both kinds are planted. 

 The sex-flowers are on different 

 plants. Propagated by cuttings 

 outdoors in spring or autumn, and 

 by seeds. See also Flower Garden 

 Shrubs. 



Auricula, Bear's-ear (auric-ula, 

 from the shape of the leaf. Ord. 

 Primulaceae) . Although the show 

 or " stage " Auricula of the florists 

 has hard work to hold its own, the 

 border varieties tend to grow in 

 favour. Stage Auriculas have a 

 band of paste round the tube, 



and a margin of green, grey, PROPAGATING AUCUBAS BY C 

 and white round the border colour, The ^ leaves ^^ bg rgmoved ^ 

 unless they have a yellow or dark the cutting inse rted to the dotted line, 

 margin, in which case they are 



called selfs; border varieties are double the size, and mostly run 

 in shades of yellow, primrose, cream, and white. Alpine Auri- 

 culas have large flowers and rich colours, such as violet, plum, 

 purple, and blue. No lover of spring flowers should fail to sow a 

 mixed packet of Alpine and border Auriculas every spring. If the 

 strain is good, some charming varieties are sure to appear. Any 

 particularly good ones can be propagated and kept true by dividing 

 them after flowering, and planting them out in a cool spot in rich 

 soil. These Auriculas are well adapted for rilling a spring bed 

 in company with coloured Primroses, Polyanthuses, and Oxlips. 

 They may be planted a foot apart in autumn. The show Auricula 

 is a more delicate plant, and should have frame culture all the year 



