118 
THE FLOEIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ Mat, 
and the collection is very complete, so far as regards kinds which are worthy of 
the space. 
In the fruit-room, which is a very useful and well-arranged structure, recently 
built, the shelves are all of spars, which fonn grooves, and along them the fruits 
are placed in rows; this affords them plenty of room, they cannot roll about, and 
there is no harbour for damp, as may be often met with in old-fashioned fruit- 
rooms. A table in the centre serves to show off samples of the finest kinds. 
There are divisions of sparred shelves on which were specimens of as fine fruit as 
may be met with. I have a list of the best sorts of Apples and Pears seen in 
this excellent fruit-room, and^may refer to this again.—M. Temple. 
DOUBLE AUEIOULAS. 
HAVE now in full bloom, two of these—the double yellow and the double 
dark or purple. Both are of vigorous growth, the former blooming with 
great freedom; a strong plant in a 32-pot throws up several flower- 
spikes, laden with flowers, which are very pleasing, and highly fragrant. 
The double dark does not throw up such bold trusses, which may, perhaps, be 
accounted for on the ground that the plants are not so strong. The flowers of 
the ’latter come very full, and are remarkably handsome when quite expanded. 
The blossoms last much longer than those of the single varieties—a property 
possessed by most double flowers. 
It is worthy of remark that years ago the double-yellow variety used to be 
much grown in the neighbourhood of Manchester, but now it is difiBcult to meet 
with it in the district. It appears to be grown in a few parts of Ireland, and it 
is now finding its way southwards. Both are well worthy of cultivation. The 
yellow form is of a bright golden colour, and it is very effective. When grown 
in pots, they should be treated in a similar manner to other Auriculas, but they 
will do "^oll ill the open border, if the soil be not too heavy and wet. My largest 
plants, growing’in 32-pots, are now (April 15) in the full flush of their floral 
beauty. 
I observe that Mr. Louis Van Houtte, of Ghent, is offering a double white 
Auricula at a long price. I hope it is true to character, as I have a lively recol¬ 
lection of a double v;hite Hepatica, which a few years ago came from Belgium, 
but which proved to be only the ordinary single white variety.—B. Dean, Ealing, 
GAKDEN GOSSIP. 
G (r|jF the Metropolitan Spring Shows of the present season, that which took 
place at the Eoyal Aquarium Summer and Winter Garden, at Westminster, 
on April 12 and 13, was decidedly the best, though the competition for 
^ the prizes was not very severe. The show of Cyclamens was very good 
indeed, and that of Hardy Spring Flo-wers and Aiiricnlas was also interesting. The main 
display, as at most of these meetings, was made by the miscellaneous contributions of the 
nurserymen. The prettiest feature of the show, arranged by IMr. Wills, consisted of a three- 
tier semicircular table, of which the back tier consisted of elegant small Palms flanked by 
