THE AURICULA. 
205 
simple the compost and general management 
the better. 
A DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF A FEW SHOW-FLOWERS. 
Page's Champion. — A green-edged flower 
of uncertain texture, and bright colour, apt to 
crack in the paste, and occasionally very much 
crumpled or curled. The paste rather thin. 
The divisions of the petals too often go quite 
through the colour into the white-eye ; the 
pips generally want flatness, but the bright- 
ness of the green edge, the fine proportion of 
colour, which is a red brown, and the general 
disposition of the truss, render it very strik- 
ing, and by growing a number of them we 
may pick one fit to exhibit. 
Lee's Col. Taylor is even now a scarce 
flower, and considered a fine one. The pro- 
portions of colour are good ; the edge a pretty 
green while young. The white-eye or paste 
good. It is not a good trusser, and we must 
grow a number to make sure of a plant. 
It has been hitherto dear, from its indispo- 
sition to increase and grow freely ; but never- 
theless, like all scarce things, a favourite. If 
there were as many in cultivation as Page's 
Champion we should see it shown much better. 
Booth's Freedom. — A very beautiful 
flower, very green edge while young, and very 
black colouring. It trusses so as not to show 
a fine large head, for the footstalks appear too 
short to enable us to do justice by expanding 
the truss. It is well proportioned, quite flat ; 
indeed, after a while, it almost reflexes. It is 
a great favourite, and up to this time not 
plentiful. It is a fine show-flower, with all 
its faults. 
Stretciie's Emperor Alexander. — A 
bright green-edged flower, but the green is 
not lasting. It is rough at the edge, opens 
very flat, yields a fine truss, is a cheerful 
looking flower when in perfection, and by 
growing it strong, and taking out three or 
four of the smallest pips, seven, which is the 
requisite number, may be got in sufficient 
order for showing. 
Dickson's Duke of Wellington — A 
more sturdy flower than either ; and if not so 
striking as Page's Champion, better in many 
respects, and much more frequently allowable. 
Dickson's Earl of Pyrrol. — A capital trus- 
ser, but at present too scarce to be grown with 
a fair chance of showing against those of which 
we can grow an unlimited number ; but one 
to be shown safely from one plant if it come 
in season. 
Lightbody's Lord Lynedocii. — Asueeess- 
ful flower in the country, but little grown 
near London ; nevertheless a desirable flower, 
and likely enough to be successful here ; but 
the .Auricula is as uncertain a flower as any 
we grow, to get in sufficient good order to 
show ; and, therefore, a number is required 
of any sort to make sure of one in the 
proper season. 
Waterhouse's Conqueror of Europe. — 
Avery large and inclined to be a coarse flower; 
but when grown in a moderate way, a noble 
variety ; the grey edge is in many specimens 
wider than we like it, so as to make the 
coloured portion too narrow ; but when grown 
of a moderate size it is effective. It is a bold 
trusser, and makes a noble show when others 
can be got to match it. It is not plentiful yet, 
and is best adapted to show as a single plant. 
The colour is pretty nearly black ; the centre 
good ; and it deserves a place in all collections. 
Dickson's Unique. — One of the best of its 
class ; a fine trusser, with good guard leaves ; 
shows well in front, and has the colours well- 
proportioned. This has proved itself a good 
match for several of the most esteemed varie- 
ties, as far more certain than any other we 
know of that is so good among the grey edges. 
Oliver's Lovely' Anne. — One of the most 
lasting flowers in cultivation ; but the colour 
is rarely wide enough in proportion to the 
grey edge, and on this account a great many 
must be grown to insure one in good order. 
It is a good trusser, opens in general very 
freely, and will remain in bloom fit for show- 
ing, for weeks. It is grown by most persons, 
on account of its lasting qualities, for there 
are many times when, but for this useful 
flower, a pair would not be shown. 
Hedge's Britannia. — A very beautiful 
grey-edged flower, opening very flat, and while 
fresh, showable in the best class. The divi- 
sions of the colour are occasionally very good; 
but it will frequently come with the colour 
breaking right through to the edge; and it 
often wants the width of edge to make it 
showable. 
Grimes's Privateer was, at one time, the 
most favourite and favoured of flowers. The 
colour of the marking is a jet black ; the pro- 
portions rather better than average ; the eye 
and tube excellent, (hough a little coarse, and 
the form middling. It is a striking flower, 
forms a good grey-edged variety, and should 
have a place in all good collections. The 
worst fault is coming sometimes crumply, 
instead of opening flat, and the divisions on 
the edge of the petal rather too prominent. 
Kenyon's Ringleader. — In many respects 
like Privateer, and rarely good the same 
season ; most exhibitors used to take pains 
with both, on the supposition that they were 
rarely both had the same season. The colours 
are much the same. 
Fletcher's Ne Plus Ultra— Is a rich 
show flower when well bloomed, ami we have 
seen it, occasionally, a very beautiful thing. 
It is a good trusser, a bold flower, well di- 
