1£8 THE FLORIST AND 



of the following remark is to show how this may be accomplished. 

 The Auricula, (Primula auricula,) is one of the very numerous spe- 

 cies of Primrose, and no mean species either. Linnaeus claims 

 this genus for Pentandria monogynia, and it forms the type of the 

 natural order Priinulacese. Our present subject is indigenous to 

 the alpine districts of the European continent, Syria, and occasion- 

 ally is found in the same situations in Britain, though rare. Its 

 name Auricula has been applied from the supposed resemblance of 

 the form of the leaves, to the ear of an animal, and hence the vul- 

 gar cognomen "Bear's Ears, 5 ' a name somewhat revolting to the 

 taste of some of our delicate and sensitive belles, but quite in 

 character with the quaint and uncouth, yet intelligent and enthu- 

 siastic class of individuals, with whom it originated. In a wild 

 state, the colours are yellow, purple, and variegated, and I am in- 

 clined to think, in opposition to the acknowledgement of some bot- 

 anist, that two or three which are considered as distinct species, are 

 nothing more than varieties of this, if so we may include white 

 also. Handsome as the different varieties of this flower appear 

 naturally, the claim to beauty has been so much enhanced, by the 

 perseverance and enthusiam of the florist's fostering care, for the 

 last three, huudred years, that at length, it has assumed a perfect 

 symmetry of outline and marking, which renders' it truly a gem. 

 Were it only for the peculiarly rich odor of the flowers, it deserves 

 a place in every garden, but when we combine this with the ever- 

 green and neat habit of the plant, and the exquisite beauty of the 

 flower, it seems strange as the cultivation is so easy, that it is not 

 more generally seen, even what is grown are mostly varieties of no 

 pretension to perfection, but simply a step or two removed from the 

 natural state. 



The Auricula is divided by florists into four classes, viz, green 

 , edged, gray edged, white edged, and selfs, the edged classes being 

 mostly esteemed as exhibition flowers, although the selfs are tol- 

 erated and encouraged. There are also, several double varieties, 

 but these are not considered equally valuable, yet they are well 

 worthy of attention. 



The following criteria constitute what is considered to be the 

 main points of excellence in a prize Auricula. The stem should be 



