AUR 



AUR 



from four to seven inches high, so as to 

 carry the truss well, but not too high 

 ahove the leaves. 



"2. The length and strength of the foot- 

 stalks of the pips should be so propor- 

 tioned to the number and size of these 

 that all the pips may have room to show 

 themselves, and to form a compact semi- 

 globular truss of flowers, not less than 

 five, though we prefer seven in number, 

 without lapping over each other. The 

 pips should be all alike in colour, size, 

 and form, so as not to be easily distin- 

 guished from one another ; for, other- 

 wise, the unity and harmony of the truss 

 will be destroyed, and although ever so 

 beautifully formed, would appear as if 

 taken from different sorts of Auricula. 

 An Auricula ought to blow freely, and 

 expand all its pips at the same time ; for 

 by this means the colours in them all 

 will appear equally fresh and lively ; 

 whereas, in those trusses that do not open 

 some of the pips till others have passed 

 their prime, the whole appearance of the 

 truss is impaired. 



"3. The truss is improved if one or 

 more leaves grow, and stand up well be- 

 hind the bloom ; for it assists the truss, 

 and adds much to the beauty of the 

 bloom by forming a green background. 



" 4. The foliage, or grass, should be 

 healthy, well-grown, and almost cover 

 the pot." Gard. and Florist, i. 45. 



" We are of opinion that all these cri- 

 teria are founded upon the dictates of 

 correct taste ; but, as these excellencies 

 are never combined in one variety, and 

 as some, being equals in many qualities, 

 are mutually superior in others, the ques- 

 tion constantly arises at Auricula exhibi- 

 tions as to which variety has the prepon- 

 derance of merit. Now, we are clearly 

 of opinion that/onw, including in this the 

 relative proportions of the colours on the 

 pips, the half globular form of the truss, 

 the number of pips, &c., is by far the 

 most striking excellence in an Auricula. 

 Next to this we should place the har- 

 mony, or, as we should prefer, the agree- 

 able contrast, or complemental association 

 of the colours. 



" Of the Pairs. Auriculas are usually 

 exhibited two specimens together, or ' in 

 pairs.' These should be of equal height 

 and size in all their parts leaves as well 



as blooms for it is offensive to the eye 

 to see a dwarf by the side of a tall- 

 growing specimen. It is also desirable 

 that the colours should differ thus, a 

 green-edged and a white-edged, a dark 

 ground colour and a light ground colour, 

 should go together. But we do not at- 

 tach so much importance to this diversity 

 of colour as some judges do. We think 

 it should have no weight further than 

 that, if two competing pairs are exactly of 

 equal merit in other respects, the prize 

 should be awarded to the pair of best 

 contrasted colours. But the slightest su- 

 periority in any characteristic of the pip 

 or truss, we think, ought to prevail over 

 this mere matter of taste, for the other 

 characteristics are evidences of better 

 cultivation." (The Cottage Gardener, 

 iii.). 



Propagation is effected by taking slips 

 from and dividing roots of approved va- 

 rieties, after the seed has ripened in July 

 and August, and by the seed itself. 



Raising Varieties. The parent plants 

 should be vigorous, and before the pips 

 of the mother plant are quite open cut off 

 the anthers of all of them with a pair of 

 sharp pointed scissars, cover with a 

 hand-glass, dust the pistil with pollen 

 from the father plant, and keep the 

 hand-glass over as before, until the 

 flower beginning to fade shows that 

 there is no danger of any other pollen 

 being intruded to frustrate your object. 

 Gather the seed vessels as they become 

 brown in June and July ; place them in 

 the sun on a sheet of white paper until 

 they burst. Rub out the seeds and sow 

 them early in September, or keep them 

 in the seed vessels in a dry place until 

 March, which is better. Sow them in a 

 warm border of light soil, or in boxes 

 under glass ; cover them with a quarter 

 of an inch of the same soil. Keep the 

 seedlings free from weeds, and when they 

 have four or five leaves transplant them 

 from the boxes or from the border into a 

 similar border in rows eight inches apait 

 each way, there to remain until they 

 flower, which will be next spring. Those 

 that you mark as good must be potted as 

 soon as the bloom is over, and treated as 

 we shall direct for established old plants. 



Culture of established Plants. We will 

 suppose that you have bought these while 



