148 THE AURICULA. 



in any favourite pursuit accomplish ? Some for their 

 amusement and gratification, some from motives of 

 gain, others again from a spirit of rivalship, and 

 many from a desire of fame, even in this pursuit, 

 and a wish to have their names registered in the 

 fancy-flower calendar, are anxious to produce new 

 varieties from seed, and, in truth, spare neither pains 

 nor expense to accomplish their desired object. 



I have always found that young, vigorously grow- 

 ing plants of two or three years old, with only one 

 stem rising from the side, produce the roundest and 

 most perfect seed. Plants, then, of this age, and 

 possessed of good properties, both in respect to colour 

 and symmetry, ought to be selected for this purpose; 

 they should neither be kept too long in the frame nor 

 confined on the stage, but should have a full expo- 

 sure to the air in a shady situation, yet receive the 

 morning rays of the sun ; they, of course, must be 

 protected from hail-storms and very heavy rains : 

 growing in this hardy state, they will undoubtedly 

 be more likely to ripen and perfect their seed. 



The Auricula, like many other flowers, in its pro- 



