THE FLORAL MAGAZINE. 



The seed, if good, germinates freely and quickly, and 

 when large enough to handle, the seedlings should be 

 pricked out thinly into other pans, and from these 

 should be potted into three-inch pots, using crushed 

 charcoal for drainage, and a sweet sandy soil. All 

 Auriculas prefer small pots at first, and bloom better, 

 and with more refinement in the markings and colour, 

 if the roots are busy at the sides of the pots. 



The essential features of a good laced Auricula area 

 thrum-eye — this is essential to all good Auricula 

 flowers; the centre should be circular, and either 

 white, creamy, or golden, the latter being by far the 

 most striking. The ground may be of any dark hue, 

 and the greater the depth of colour the more striking 

 is the contrast with the lacing. The lacing must be 

 clear and well-defined, and the flower altogether per- 

 fectly flat and circular. 



The very best types should be selected for pot cul- 

 ture. The commoner forms make excellent border 

 flowers, and are very pretty in the spring-time. The 

 laced Auriculas are a hardy race, standing exposure 

 well during winter, even on a stiff, cold soil, where 

 other plants of a reputed hardy character failed. We 

 strongly recommend these laced Auriculas to our 

 readers. 



GLOXINIAS AND THEIR CULTURE. 



How is it that so many of the plants of Gloxinias that 

 are produced at Horticultural Exhibitions are so often 

 weak in the foliage while strong in the blossoms ? 

 This is a fact that can be noticed at any Horticultural 

 Exhibition of note ; and we were particularly struck 

 with this characteristic at a show held at Reading a 

 few days ago. There were several collections of 

 Gloxinias competing in a class, and one stood out 

 from all the rest for the perfect balance between 

 foliage and flowers; but the others were decidedly 

 deficient in foliage, though the flowers were generally 

 good. 



There is no doubt something to be said from the 

 point of view of strain. We think in the case of the 

 Gloxinia, as in other flowers, there has teen so much 

 attention paid to the improvement of the flowers, that 

 the important matter of habit has fallen into the 

 second place, and suffered in consequence. But this 

 is not true in all cases. Some raisers have improved 

 the habit of the plants as well as the flowers, and 

 thereby done good service to floriculture. 



Something of the result we are deploring is no 

 doubt due to imperfect cultivation. The plants are 

 kept too warm ; they are not sufficiently shaded from 

 the sun ; they am potted in uncongenial soil ; they 

 are neglected in the matter of watering, &c. ; and the 

 Gloxinia is quick to suffer from any of these causes. 

 The gardener may plead, with some show of truth, 

 that he cannot grow his plants so well in a mixed 

 house of plants as in one wholly devoted to this plant ; 

 but there are some who cultivate under such apparently 

 hurtful conditions. 



When looking through the London Road Florist 

 Flower Seed Grounds of Messrs. Sutton and Sons, at, 

 Reading, a few days ago, we were much struck with 

 the great beauty of a number of seedling Gloxinias of 

 large size, vigorous growth, and bearing flowers of 

 immense proportions and of the best form. The 

 peculiar drooping foliage, which seemed to fold itself 

 about the pots like wings, attracted our attention, and 

 we were informed that the type is from a strain named 

 G. crassafolia, the leaves having a tendency to fold 

 themselves downwards, and, as we before stated, 

 covering the sides of the pots. This type makes a 

 good table plant when a good head of bloom surmounts 

 foliage of the most approved character. 



Messrs. Sutton and Sons grow every year a large 

 number of Gloxinias from seed, and all the best types 

 are carefully saved to yield seed for trade purposes. 

 Seed sown in January in a brisk heat produces plants 

 which, from the first transplanting from the seed pans, 

 come into bloom in May, and successional batches are 

 obtained up till the end of the summer. One great 

 point in the cultivation of the Gloxinia is to encourage 

 shiftings till the flowering pots are reached, and taking 

 care to give the plants good soil at all stages of growth. 

 Watering is a matter of considerable moment, and the 

 plants are never suffered to go dry for lack of it. 

 Liquid manure is applied about twice a week, but 

 never while the soil is dry. When manure water is 

 administered, clear water is at first given until the soil 

 becomes thoroughly moistened, and then the manure 

 water is added. The Gloxinia is somewhat of a strong 

 feeder, and must be stimulated if fine foliage and 

 flowers are to be had on the same plants. Messrs. 

 Sutton and Sons state in their catalogue, with much 

 truth, that seed sown in January, February, and March 

 will produce large plants, bearing from ten to thirty 

 flowers, by July, August, and September. Those who 

 exhibit Gloxinias in August and September should 

 bear this in mind, as we think they will find seedling 

 plants the best for their purpose thus late in the year. 



