4 8 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



require after a time to be repotted — three plants in a small 

 sixty, and the next time one in a flower-pot the same size. 

 They will flower in 4m. flower-pots the second season after 

 sowing the seed. Of course, the Auricula fancier, after having t 

 obtained a stock of choice varieties, would save seed from cross- 

 fertilising the best of them. This is easily done by cutting off 



the anthers with 

 a pair of sharp- 

 pointed scissors,| 

 before the pollen 

 is scattered. The 

 plant should be 

 held upside down 

 when doing this, 

 so that the pollen- 

 cases may fall on 

 the ground instead 

 of into the tube. 

 With a fine camel- 

 hair brush the 

 pollen should be 

 conveyed to the 

 stigma of the 

 flowers intended 

 to bear seed. It 

 is needless to add 

 that only the best 

 varieties in each 

 class should be 

 used alike as 

 seed- and pollen- 

 bearers. Above 

 all, the classes 

 should not be 

 intermixed. The 

 Green- Edged 

 should be crossed with another variety having a green edge. 

 The same remark applies to the Alpine Auriculas. In crossing, - 

 the yellow-centred kinds should be kept together, as also should 

 the white or cream. 



Propagation by offsets is the way to obtain a stock of named 

 varieties. Such offsets are produced very freely by some 



Fig. 28. — Select Show Auriculas. 



1. Smithfield Green, Green 3. Marmion, Grey Edge, 



Edge. 4. George Lightbody 



2. Miss Prim, White Edge. Grey Edge. 



5. Rev. F. D. Horner, Green Edge. 



