1877 .] 
ALPINE AURICULAS. 
53 
time.— Ed.] If those which you recommend are proof against this evil, there 
can be no doubt of their value as being neater and more efficient than most 
other “ wire-tighteners ” which I have seen in use.—M. Temple, Impney ITall, 
ALPINE AURICULAS. 
; S a grower of Alpine Auriculas for a period longer than I have grown their 
refined sisters, I have been interested in the remarks made about them in 
recent numbers of the Florist. It was not until last year that I was 
^ made aware that such flowers as those of which Mercury (Turner) is the type, 
would be subject to disqualification if exhibited at a show held by the National 
Auricula Society. It may be a fact that to the eye of a trained florist—that is, 
one who has been educated to require certain properties, and who looks for them 
in a flower that has received its most perfect development, to the exclusion of 
other properties that would perhaps be more admired by the ordinary amateur— 
the shaded Alpines are the most beautiful, and that this shading is the “ first and 
prettiest property of the Alpine,” but I demur to the statement “ that shaded 
ground-colours is a leading property universally recognised among florists.” 
It is a fact that by far the largest proportion of flowers shown in London are 
Selfs. Nearly all of them have been ^raised and sent out by Mr. C. Turner, of 
Slough ; and it follows naturally that if shaded flowers had been most admired, 
they would have been raised and sent out. Our great nurserymen and florists 
know what the public are most likely to purchase, and will invest their money 
and talents in that which will give the best return. I certainly consider it a 
national misfortune or calamity that the National Society should disqualify Self 
Alpines. At the London exhibitions the Self Alpines have been admired by 
many of our best amateurs and gardeners, and many of them have preferred 
these flowers to the very best green, grey, or white-edged Auriculas. I do not say 
they were right, but I could prove what I say, if necessary, by referring to the 
pages of our leading gardening papers. One whose name I could mention, and 
who stands very high as an editor and horticulturist, pointing to a Self Alpine in 
my own collection, said, “ How much more beautiful is that flower than these 
monstrosities, the green-edged Auriculas.” So much for being educated up to 
recognise certain properties. 
Alpine Auriculas still admit of much improvement, and as Mr. E. S. Dodwell 
truly says in the Florist (p. 41), “ seedling-raising is an admirable school 
for teaching humility, and opening the mind and heart to the limitless powers of 
the Infinite.” Why should we puny creatures limit that power by drawing 
narrow lines of demarcation ? I like freedom of action, and would not consent to 
be bound by prejudice, either northern or southern. 
All the Alpines I have as yet seen have green foliage, without any white 
powder, but here comes Mr. Knight, of Floors Castle (p. 34), with a row of one 
sort beautiful at all seasons by its mealy leaves, the flowers “ very dark,” with a 
yellow centre. Evidently, Mr. Knight requires educating in Auriculas ; he must 
