96 MISCELLANEOUS EXHIBITION PLANTS. 



Green-edged. — Apollo, Colonel Taylor, F. D. Horner, Freedom, Lady 

 Ann, and Prince of Greens. 



Grey-edged. — Alderman, Charles E. Brown, Dr. Horner, George Light- 

 body, John Waterston, and Robert Traill. 



White-edged. — Acme, Beauty, Conservative, Glory, Smiling Beauty, 

 and True Briton, 



Selfs. — Blackbird, Formosa, Heroine, Lord of Lorn, Othello, and 

 Pizarro. 



The points of a perfect flower of the Stage Auricula are, the 

 tube yellow — not always obtained — circular, well filled with 

 golden-coloured anthers, and free from fluting ; the paste cir- 

 cular, solid, and as near white as possible ; the ground colour 

 unbroken and distinct where it surrounds the paste, but its outer 

 edge flashes more or less into the edge, although the irregulari- 

 ties should never extend through it. The edge should be pure 

 in colour, and the circumference of the pip should not be notched 

 nor pointed, but perfectly even and smooth. Selfs have gene- 

 rally a notch in the lip of the petal, but some are without 

 it, and the aim of all raisers is to have the "roseleaf " petal 

 in all new varieties. Alpines should have a golden yellow or 

 white centre, without powder, the body varied in colour, and 

 the edge of one colour, paler at the outer edge. 



Auriculas may be grown in the open border in ordinary 

 soil, but to grow specimens for exhibition in their most perfect 

 condition, a small house or frame, constructed expressly for 

 them, is indispensable for success. In it they can receive 

 abundance of light and air, two important agents in their 

 successful cultivation, and be securely protected from storms 

 of wind and rain. The plants should be regularly inspected, 

 and their wants punctually met, so as to command the greatest 

 success, The following compost suits them admirably : — Three 

 parts of well-rotted turfy loam from an old pasture, one of dry 

 cow-dung, one of leaf-mould, and one of sand, and in mixing 

 the compost every worm that is seen in it should be picked 

 out. Four-inch pots are generally sufficient, but the larger 

 plants require 5-inch pots. In England it is usual to re-pot 

 the plants in May, but in Scotland the best time is July and 

 August. Use clean pots and drain them well. Fill in the 

 soil and press it down at the sides of the pot, leaving a cone 



