GROUPS OF GARDEN FLOWERS 13 



The selfs are altogether different from either of the above classes. 

 There is the yellow or orange-coloured eye, and the centre of dense 

 white paste, but the margin is merely a solid unshaded colour of dark 

 maroon, violet, red, or yellow. 



There has grown up within the last decade or so a section termed 

 Fancies. Of course, when a batch of seedlings is raised by cross-fertili- 

 sation from any of the above classes there are varieties outside these 

 classes that are in their way very pretty. These have been cultivated 

 and admired, even more so by many persons of taste than the more 

 formal edged types. The larger proportion of them are merely edged 

 varieties. They have the margin of green, grey, or white, but no ground 

 colour ; they are very pretty in the garden, and those who 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 consecutive 

 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 repotted 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 Light- 

 body, 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 removed before the pollen is scattered, and should 

 be done when the flowers are not quite half open. This leaves the 



