264 THE FLOWER-GARDEN, [chap. viii. 
and intensity of the colours, which otherwise 
are apt to become dull and clouded. Those 
persons who grow auriculas for sale, generally 
show them on what is called a blooming-stage, 
and shade them with an awning like that 
used for a tulip-bed* The plants are propa¬ 
gated by offsets, or dividing the root; and 
new varieties are continually being raised 
from seed. Auriculas are occasionally double 
or semi-double, but these varieties are con¬ 
sidered by florists very far inferior to the 
single kinds. 
The Polyanthus is of the same genus as 
the auricula, and of the same species as the 
primrose. It is, however, a very distinct 
variety of the last; and it is said to take its 
name of polyanthus, which signifies many- 
flowered, from its producing its flowers in 
trusses like the auricula, while the flowers of 
the primrose are produced singly, each on a 
separate stalk rising from the root. The 
qualities of the polyanthus resemble those of 
the auricula as to form and shape, but there 
is not the same variety as to colour, as the 
polyanthus is always of a very dark brownish 
red and golden yellow. The best flowers 
