46 FLORA DOMESTICA. 



Thunberg, in his Travels in Japan, says, " I found here 

 a tree which is called Aukuba, and another called Nandina, 

 both which were supposed to bring good fortune to the 

 house." He observes that almost every house in Japan has 

 a small yard behind it, decorated with a little mount, a few 

 trees, shrubs, and flower-pots, and that the Aucuba and 

 Azalea are almost always seen there *. 



The Aucuba is comparatively a stranger in this country ; 

 it was not introduced till the year 1783. 



AURICULA. 



PRIMULA AURICULA. 



PRIMULACE7E. PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 



Mountain Cowslip, French Cowslip, and Oricolo ; but all these 

 names have been superseded by Auricula, by which name it is best 

 known in this country. The old botanical name was auricula ursi 

 [bear's ear], from the shape of the leaves. French, oreille d'ours. 

 Italian, orecchio d'orso. 



THE Auricula is a native of the mountains of Switzerland, 

 Austria, Styria, Carniola, Savoy, and Piedmont. It flowers 

 in April and May. It is astonishing how greatly it may be 

 improved by cultivation. It has been affirmed that Henry 

 Stow, of Lexden, near Colchester, a noted cultivator of 

 these flowers, had one plant with no less than one hun- 

 dred and thirty-three blossoms upon one stem-f-. 



The varieties are innumerable ; and they are known 

 by the name of every colour, and combination of colours. 

 Some are named from the persons who first raised them ; 

 others by more fanciful appellations, as the Matron, the 

 Alderman, the Fair Virgin, the Mercury, &c. 



A fine Auricula should have a strong upright stem, of 



* Thunberg's Travels, Vol. III. p. 111. 



t Morant's Colchester (to which Millar refers), page 92. 



