372 



BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS 



collections nowadays, whereas hundreds keep large stocks of the 

 other flowers named. The difficulty which the Stage Auricula has 



to maintain its position is not wholly due 

 to the competition of the Daffodil, but 

 arises in part from the fact that it is of 

 little use as a border plant. We are full 

 of decorative gardening in these days, and 

 a plant which will not lend itself to the 

 formation of effective beds and borders runs 

 considerable risk of going to the wall. The 

 old florists always grew their Auriculas in 



STAGE AURICULA 



A, tube ; B, body; c, edge? D, anthers p O t s under glass, generally in frames, and 



filling mouth of tube ; E, stigma low * 



down in tube; F shows general that is really the only way of getting 



It is true that 



habit of plant. 



good results from them, 

 the plants are hardy enough to live out of doors, but the meal or 

 paste of which we have already spoken, and which in combination 

 with the even margin of green, grey, or white gives the flower its 

 exquisite refinement, would be affected by 

 rain, and the beauty of the flowers would 

 be spoiled. 



The flower of a florists' Auricula may 

 be said to consist of four distinctly marked 

 parts the tube, the paste, the body colour, 

 and the edge. It must be round and flat, 

 and the edge must be quite even and smooth. 

 A jagged, quartered, or uneven flower might 

 have pleasing colours, but it would possess 

 no charms for the true florist. The tube 

 should be of a clear lemon, canary, or 

 yellow shade, and quite circular. The anthers will be prominent 

 in it, but the stigma will be hidden. The paste or meal which 

 surrounds the tube should be dense and white ; if patchy or cloudy 

 the flower is imperfect. The ring of colour round the paste should 



ALPINE AURICULA 

 Showing offsets growing. 



