THE AURICULA. 



113 



Of course those who are growers only may grow everything ; 

 but where plants are used for seed, it is safer that they should 

 keep only the best of company. If that which is otherwise is 

 among them, it is not easy to completely outwit its influence, 

 particularly with respect to yellow selfs and "alpines." The 

 former encourage not only their own potent colour, but also 

 extraordinary mixtures past description, and alpines import 

 traces of their shaded tints. 



It may be the view of an extremist, but I think that he who 

 works for seedlings of the highest quality risks sore interference 

 with his best efforts by playing with those confessed muddles 

 known as " fancies." Fancy what our grave fathers would have 

 said to see them here, admitted to our strictly classical florist 

 shows ! The Auricula is brought to light once more, and lo ! 

 we have the moonlight flights and nightmare fancies of the 

 Auricula exposed to view. The Carnation is in favour again, and 

 florists are allured into consent to raise, keep, multiply, and 

 exhibit along with their x most sterling flowers, those which are 

 admittedly delinquents and outside the pale ! 



You will understand that I am speaking strictly from a 

 florist's point of view, and I think that purity is the florist's best 

 policy. 



It is not that I have no love for other plants. I have grown 

 many a wayside, and out-of-the-wayside flower, and I would not 

 deny life and beauty to our florist misfits and defaulters. There 

 is not a flower in the world but what is far too good to despise. 

 I mentioned " fancies," not to carp at them, and scarcely even 

 at their appearance here, if it is understood. But I think they 

 are no little beside the mark in a florist's aim, so far as his floral 

 work concerns his florist flowers. They must in some measure 

 feed upon his time and space ; just as, in our trout stream at 

 home, the little salmon smolts, which are illegitimate in the 

 basket, are continually robbing our trout of flies, by virtue of a 

 vigorous growth, and appetite insatiable. 



It may be that these "fancy" flowers add to the attraction 

 of the show, if that is any compliment to our correct beauties ! 

 It may be that they serve as foil and contrast to our classical 

 flowers. Perchance they give to the outer circle of floricul- 

 turists some insight of what the ore is like from which we 

 have extracted our precious metal. 



