86 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ Apiiir., 
vigour ; and this, I think, might be accomplished if some of those who are still 
in the fancy would bestir themselves a little. 
A few days ago I had some talk with an old and particular friend, one of the 
oldest Auricula-growers now left in this locality. He grew a fine collection, so 
far back as the year 1812, has never been entirely without plants since his 
commencement, and has still a few of the choicest old varieties ; but he believes 
himself almost alone as an Auricula-grower, and so he certainly is in this part of 
the country. I myself was a grower in the year 1814, and remained so up to 
1849, and during most of that period had about the largest and most select 
collection of any one grower in England ; but through engagements in busi¬ 
ness, which occupied all my time, I was obliged to give up Auricula-growing, 
though I could not rid my mind of the fancy. Twice since that time I have 
made a fresh start, but from one circumstance or other have not been able to go 
into the matter as I should like to do ; still, the old fancy is alive, and it is not 
at all unlikely that I may try to gratify it yet again. My friend tells me there 
are scarcely any plants to be met with anywhere. Even in Scotland, he says, 
there are no large collections such as some of us used to grow in England. I 
believe this statement is, in the main, correct; but how is it ? what has become 
of all the plants ? Surely they have not all died away with the men who grew 
them. If such is the case, more is the pity, although in one sense it might 
not be considered so, for should there be something like a speedy revival of the 
fancy, the plants being scarce, there would be no fear of the market being glutted 
or over-stocked for some time to come. 
Auricula-growing is somewhat different from that of some other fiorist’s 
flowers, such as Tulips, Carnations, fee. To be successful in growing Auriculas, 
a little forethought, with a slight degree of labour, will be required in the pre¬ 
paration of suitable composts. I have in former articles recommended the kind 
of compost which I have myself successfully made use of in preference to any 
other, and explained the way in which I prepared it. To those who may not 
have seen these instructions, and who have not previously been in the fancy, I 
shall be willing to renew these recommendations.— John Hepworth, Hud¬ 
dersfield. 
LINUM TRIGYNUM. 
jEEE we have a really useful old plant, now seldom hiet with in cultivation, 
though it is an object worthy of special notice. It may be had in flower 
at mid-winter, a season when blossoms are comparatively scarce, and 
yields for the conservatory a most effective yellow-flowered plant, which, 
for profusion of blossom, and purity of colour, is unsurpassed. Moreover, it is 
not a plant which is gaudy to-day and bereft of beauty to-morrow, for it will 
aontinue in charming condition for several weeks. 
This is a capital time for taking it in hand for the present season’s blooming. 
