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REPORT ON THE 



Auricula and the flower known to us as the Alpine Auricula. In 

 plain truth they were as distinct then as they are now, and John 

 Gerarde's had drawings hit the truth admirably. It is important 

 also to note the remark of Johnson in his edition of Gerarde, 

 published 1633, to the effect that there are divers varieties, 

 differing in the leaves, which are green or hoary, and in the 

 flowers, which are white, yellow, red, and purple ; the gardens 

 of Mr. Tradescant and Mr. Tuggie being well furnished with 

 such. 



These things prepare us for what the immortal John Par- 

 kinson has to say. In his " Theater of Plants " (1G40) he copies 

 the bad figure from the Antwerp Dodoens, and describes twenty- 

 six kinds of Auriculas. It is of the highest interest to note that 

 amongst them occur a 11 stript purple," which he describes as 

 singularly changeable ; also a parti -coloured red and white, 

 " heard of but not seen." The Collie, that he describes as 

 " somewhat sad but very lively," and the " Purplish Blew," 

 appear both to have been of the class known to us as selfs, 

 while " Heavens Blew," " Paler Blew," and " Bright Crimson," 

 were of the class now 'known as Alpines. Of yellows he says 

 there were many, but so mixed " I cannot expresse them." This 

 is just what might be expected, and it may be fair to add that, 

 as a matter of course, they were the least valued, because not far 

 enough removed from the wild flower of the mountains, for the 

 opinion appears to have prevailed that there was only one kind 

 of wild Auricula. 



In the M Paradisus " there are twenty varieties described, a few 

 of which are admirably figured. Of these nine had green leaves 

 without meal, and the remainder were more or less mealy. The 

 flowers are presented as varying in colour, and some have a 

 centre of the kind we call " paste," while others are without it. 

 The colours are just such as we find in border Auriculas of the 

 present day, comprising shades of red, purple, violet, marone, 

 yellow, and white. We are certainly in the midst of Auriculas, 

 not only of the mountain, but also of the garden. It appears 

 that we have in the " Paradisus," inexhaustible treasure as it is, 

 the fountain of diversity as revealed to the penetrating eye of 

 " Thine in what he may," the author of what he himself in his 

 dedication designates " this speaking Garden." 



This paper should be something like a catalogue of evidences, 



