54 A GUIDE TO FLORICULTURE. 



mula HelveticuSj Nevis, and Viscosa. Its original color is 

 orange yellow, not much unlike the English Cowslip, and 

 not over prepossessing in appearance, unless in its pristine 

 state. The Auricula was imported into England in the six- 

 teenth century, and was found susceptible of improvement 

 by cultivation. Since that time much care has been be- 

 stowed by florists, and the perfection it has attained is aston- 

 ishing, so much so that it has become one of the leading 

 florist flowers of England ; and instead of the original col- 

 ors is now one of the most beautiful imaginable. There 

 are catalogues published in London containing several hun- 

 dred with different names, from fifty cents each up to fifty 

 dollars, depending on their perfection of beauty and scarcity. 

 It is a matter of surprise that this delightful flower is not 

 more cultivated in this country, for any situation that will 

 preserve the Carnation through the winter would be con- 

 genial to the Auricula ; indeed I think the Carnation the 

 more tender of the two. Being a native of the Alpine re- 

 gions of Switzerland, Italy, and Germany, it remains dor- 

 mant through the winter, being entirely covered with snow, 

 therefore it must be conclusive that any situation that is a 

 little above freezing point is suitable for instance, a cellar 

 or pit is all the protection necessary. During the months 

 of December and January must be kept tolerably dry. In 

 the beginning of February take some of the soil out of the 

 pot without disturbing the roots, and replace it with fresh, 

 and begin to water, moderately at first, and the benefit re- 

 sulting will soon be perceptible. The best time to take of! 

 the side shoots is in the spring when the plants are in flow- 

 er, as you can more readily mark the varieties. It is not 

 material whether the side shoots have root fibres or not, as 



