GROUPS OF GARDEN FLOWERS 5 



admire them can grow them with the others, as, of course, the cultural 

 requirements are similar. 



Cultural Notes. The Auricula is propagated by seed to produce 

 new varieties, and the named varieties are increased by offsets. These 

 ought to be allowed to remain on the plants until roots are formed 

 at their base ; if the offsets are removed before this they take a long time 

 to strike out roots, and sometimes refuse altogether. Some varieties 

 increase rapidly from offsets, others very slowly indeed. The writer 

 has known a stock plant grown on from year to year for six consecu- 

 tive seasons, and never form even one offset. These unproductive 

 varieties will form long necks in two seasons, and it is best to cut the 

 top of the plant off; when this is done, offsets are sure to be produced, 

 and the top, if planted in sandy soil in a small pot, will also in time 

 form roots. These offsets require careful attention, and must be re- 

 potted as they require it. An offset will require about eighteen months 

 to grow into a full-flowering plant ; and most of the varieties produce 

 the finest trusses of bloom on young plants. The fine grey-edged 

 Auricula, George Lightbody, is a notable instance of this. And in the 

 self class Horner's Heroine is another favourable example. 



Propagation by Seed. This is the only way to obtain new varieties, 

 as Auriculas do not "sport" into distinct forms, as does the Carnation 

 or Chrysanthemum. In order to obtain good and distinct varieties, 

 it is necessary to resort to cross-fertilisation, and in this case the 

 classes ought to be kept by themselves. Green-edged varieties should 

 be crossed with each other. There are now four very good varieties 

 in cultivation, viz., Abbe" Liszt, Mrs. Henwood, Shirley Hibberd, and 

 Rev. F. D. Homer. All these four may be used either as seed or 

 pollen bearers. No Auricula in any class will pass muster with a 

 fancier if it is " pin-eyed " that is, the stigmatic part of the flower 

 protruding from the mouth of the corolla, with the anthers lower than 

 the stigma. This would be a fatal defect, and however perfect the 

 flowers might be in other respects, this defect would consign it to the 

 rubbish-heap. An Auricula perfect in all its parts has the stigma 

 placed near the base of the tube, with the anthers in the mouth ; and 

 to be sure that cross-fertilisation is effected, the anthers must be re- 

 moved before the pollen is scattered, and should be done when the 

 flowers are not quite half open. This leaves the tube open, and the 

 pollen can be placed on the stigma with a fine brush. 



The Auricula flowers from the middle to the end of April, and if 

 cross-fertilisation is effected at that time, the seed will ripen in July, 

 and as soon as it ripens, it may at once be sown. Use well-drained 

 flower-pots, those about five inches diameter are as suitable as any 

 other. The surface must be made quite level, the seed to be sown 

 thinly, and merely covered with fine soil. Place the flower-pots in a 

 hand-light on the north side of a wall or fence of some kind. The seed 

 will germinate in two or three weeks, at least some of it will. A larger 

 portion will be in the ground until February, when more seedlings will 

 appear, and the remainder of the seed will germinate at intervals for 

 twelve months or more. The seedlings should be pricked out as soon 



