April.] FLOWER GARDEN. 347 
some dark colourj by way of contrast to the white eyes, &c. of the 
flowers^ and if a large looking-glass be placed at each end of the 
stage, the eflfect produced will be very pleasing, by apparently 
lengthening the stage each way as far as the eye can reach. 
A row of fine polyanthuses in pots may likewise be introduced 
on the auricula stagej it will add to the variety and form a pleasing 
contrast. 
The tallest flowering auriculas should stand on the most distant 
shelf, and the shortest in front; those stems which are weak and 
bend ought to be supported with small wires fixed in the earth 
behind them so as not to be easily discerned. If the root of the 
stage is covered with glass it will be an additional advantage to 
the plants. 
Ji description of the properties of a fine variegated Auricula. 
The stem should be strong, erect, and elastic, and of a proper 
height, that the bunch or truss of flowers may be above the foliage 
of the plant. 
The.peduncles or foot-stalks should also be strong and elastic, 
and of a proportional length to the size and quantity of the pips, 
which should not be less than seven in number, that the bunch may 
be rather round, close, and compact. 
The component parts of the pip, are the tube, with its stamens 
and anthers, the eye, and the exterior circle containing the 
ground colour, with its edge or margin; these three should be all 
well proportioned, which will be the case if the diameter of the 
tube be one part, the eye three, and the whole pip or flower six, or 
nearly so. 
All the admirers of this charming flower agree that the pips 
ought to be round; but this seldom happens, and we must be 
content if they are so nearly round as not to be what is called 
starry. 
The anthers or summits of the stamens ought to be large, bold, 
and fill the tube well, and the tube should terminate rather above 
the eye; the eye should be very white, smooth, and round, without 
any cracks, and distinct from the ground or self-colour. 
The ground colour should be bold and rich, and equal on every 
side of the eye, whether it be in one uniform circle, or in bright 
patches; it should be distinct at the eye, and only broken at the 
outward part, into the edging; a fine black purple, or coffee-colour, 
contrast best with the eye; a rich blue, or bright pink, is pleasing, 
but a glowing scarlet, or deep crimson, would be most desirable if 
well edged with a bright green, but this is very rare. 
The green edge or margin is the principal cause of the variegated 
appearance in the flower, and it should be in proportion to the 
ground colour, that is, about one half of each. 
The darker grounds are generally covered with a white powder, 
which constitutes much of the beauty of the flower. 
