THE AURICULA. 



109 



mostly of reddish tints, which are not capable of much distinctive- 

 ness, are very common, as the puce in Phloxes, and not steady 

 to one shade. Violet plums are richer, but apt to shade towards 

 the edge with age, or cold weather, and to be weaker generally 

 on the inner pips. With the crimson selfs I have had a long 

 struggle to obtain the " rose-leaved," notchless petal. The tubes 

 in this class seem, as to colour, inherently golden ; at least, I 

 have never had a pale tubed crimson self from seed. The best 

 I have raised, as yet, I have brought with me ; but though form 

 and colour and tube are fine, the paste is not sharply enough 

 denned, nor sufficiently circular. 



It is very fascinating to follow the first break of a new colour, 

 especially the traces of such a lovely one for the selfs as pink. 

 This has shown some improvement, but it is still too fleeting. 

 It will be a wonderful acquisition when won. 



In what are termed the " blue " selfs, the really golden tube 

 is yet a dream of the future, though a very pretty and fairly 

 steadfast light lemon is gained in the new blue, Mrs. Arthur 

 Potts. This is far the best flower in its class ; and the fresh 

 lemon tube demonstrates at once, by its effect, that our desire 

 for this property is true to the beauty of that type. 



Deep violet shades of blue are more ready to acquire this 

 property than the light ones, both in " selfs" and " edges." In 

 the latter classes I have seen no blue body colour that opens and 

 remains in one unmixed, unchanging shade. 



But all classes of the Auricula as yet dwell, like our own 

 selves, in that largest room in all this world — the " room for 

 improvement." Even if we attain to perfection with them, 

 which we need not fear to be doing too often, we shall not reach 

 the ultimatum of the flower. There is no " Ne Plus Ultra," 

 though two Auriculas, of Smith's and Fletcher's, bear that 

 unpretentious name ! 



But I do say there is good hope of still better things for those 

 who will take thought and pains how best to overcome some 

 weakness, characteristic of a colour or a class. Despite the 

 many sorry tricks that seedlings will play off upon us, our object 

 will be traceable among them ; and rewards are just rare enough 

 to make their value felt. 



Whether the term of years between the raising and circula- 

 tion of a worthy seedling will be ever shortened, I cannot say. 



m 2 



