FLOWERS FOR SUBURBAN GARDENS 371 



one or two particular flowers might do worse than consider the 

 claims of the Auricula. It will not give brilliant effects either 

 indoors or out, but it will always be interesting. Being an ever- 

 green plant, it will have something to show, if only healthy leaves, 

 throughout the whole of the year. 



CLASSES OF AURICULAS 



Florists put Auriculas into two main classes the Stage (or 

 Show) and the Alpine ; but a third class, called Border Auriculas, 

 is recognised nowadays, when hardy plants are used so much. 

 The last are generally raised from seed. The Stage Auriculas are 

 subdivided into Green-edged, Grey-edged, White-edged, and Self. 

 In the case of the first three the distinctive term springs, as would 

 be supposed, from the colour on the margin of the flower. Within 

 is the " paste " or meal. The Selfs are not, as might be expected, 

 of one colour only ; they also contain paste, as well as a distinctly 

 coloured tube, but flowers with yellow and dark margins are called 

 Selfs. The Alpines have no paste. They are generally larger 

 than the Stage varieties, and the plants are hardier. The Border 

 Auriculas are really Alpines. 



The Auricula is specialised as a florists' flower, the same as 

 Roses, Dahlias, Sweet Peas, Daffodils, Carnations, and Tulips. 

 There are Societies devoted to it and its connection the Primula 

 (botanically all Auriculas are Primulas), and Auricula Shows are 

 held in London and one or two provincial centres in spring. 

 The Auricula has not so numerous a following as the Rose, the 

 Sweet Pea, and the Daffodil ; indeed, the rise of the last-named 

 flower has doubtless affected the Auricula as a specialist's flower. 

 It has a difficulty in holding its own. The old lovers of the 

 flower die out, and the rising generation grows something else. 

 The state of affairs which exists may be judged by the fact 

 that only a small handful of trade florists maintain representative 



