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REPORT ON THE 



doing all we can to intensify and magnify the class distinctions, 

 gaining green edges as deeply green as possible, and wlnfce edges 

 as densely mealed. The " undecided edge," too green for 

 grey, and too grey for a pure green, is not desirable. Still the 

 Auricula is so very sportive that some decisive edges will be 

 obtained from parents dissimilar in class ; and the experiment is 

 justified, of course, if there be no alternative, and if some marked 

 improvement in form may be hoped for from it. 



Petals. — Connected with form, in addition to the roundness 

 and level disposition of the petals, may be mentioned their num- 

 ber. This is variable, even in different flowers on the same 

 plant. Five is probably the normal number, for beyond this the 

 Auricula will take a playful liberty with the proprieties of its 

 Linnsean order, Pentandria, always producing just as many 

 stamens as there may be petals ; and if one be of inordinate 

 breadth it is accounted as two, and decorated accordingly with 

 two stamens. This may be a botanical misdemeanour, but is 

 not an offence under florist bye -laws. The same is noticeable 

 also in the florist Tulip, which is required to have petals neither 

 less nor more than six, but is occasionally misformed with four 

 or five, and seven or eight, when there is always one attendant 

 anther for each. In the Auricula five or six petals are sufficient 

 for a broad, round flower, and more than eight begin to look 

 narrow and laboured. 



Colour. — When we turn from improvement in form to views 

 of improvement in colours, both in richness and variety, a very 

 wide field of development lies before the florist. Possibilities 

 peep out but half concealed or only in the rough, revealing them- 

 selves in the rare combinations of colours that a few seedlings 

 crudely show ; and these beckonings need but to be followed to 

 obtain in time some new and beautiful combinations. 



The Auricula is a most richly endowed flower, possessing 

 already, singly or combined, all colours of the rainbow — violet, 

 indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red ; and further still 

 and rarer, that negation of all colours, black. In edges we do not 

 look for a gift of other than the green, grey, and white, now so well 

 known and fixed, while the colours of the paste and tube are con- 

 stant and common to all. There remains but one more colour zone 

 upon the flower, to give variety and play, and that is the ring or belt 

 of velvety surface known as the " ground " or " body" colour. 



