166 
THE FLORIST. 
ago that were from 18 to 20 feet high. There is a green Bamboo, 
certainly hardy. As soon as the attention of nurserymen is called to 
these plants, there is no doubt that they will become far more 
common than they are at present. Among things from the garden of 
the Society are some Ferns. The collection formed by the Society now 
occupies a part of what was formerly the American garden, which has 
been recently altered and laid out with much taste. A considerable 
variety of foreign Ferns has been raised in the garden from seed. The 
plants have just been put into small pots, and in a couple of months 
may be ready for distribution to such Fellows of the Society as may 
apply for them. There is still one thing to which special attention 
should be directed, and that is some fine samples of Broccoli exhibited 
by Mr. Turner, of Slough. It is called the “ Frogmore Protecting 
Broccoli ” from its having originated with Mr. Ingram, in the Royal 
Gardens at Frogmore. Instead of this Broccoli being naked, the leaves 
fold over and shelter it to the last, so that in order to find the head it is 
necessary to pull away a certain quantity of the leaves in which it is 
enveloped. It is perfectly hardy, and must be regarded as a very 
important addition to the Broccolies now in cultivation.” 
AURICULAS. 
Last year I sent you a list of forty sorts of the Auricula, with my 
notes on their qualities as they flowered with me. I now add my notes 
on a few others as they have bloomed this year. With respect to my 
last list, I wish to add, that the longer my acquaintance with this 
flower the more difficult I find it to form a correct judgment of a par¬ 
ticular variety. For instance, Sir John Moore I had from the first, 
and had bloomed it for the fourth season, during which time every 
blossom had been alike, and very far beneath what was fair to expect 
from its high price. This year I have six plants, one of which is a 
very different thing, and though not a pure green-edged flower, because 
there is always a white bead round the margin of each petal, it has no 
fault but that, and would be a chief ornament either to the stage or the 
exhibition table. Lady Ann Wilbraham, also, I was very near 
throwing away, and indeed was only prevented from doing so by the 
remonstrance of Mr. Lightbody. This year I should not have feared 
to show it against any other green-edged flower, and there it stands now 
the most striking among 250. Richard Headley and the two Uniques 
have fully answered all my expectations expressed last year, and are 
all first-class flowers. One more thing I would wish to add, namely, 
that though I am sure it is necessary to uphold the distinction of class 
between green-edged and grey-edged, I am myself an example of the 
difficulty of practically applying it; not, I mean, in the colour of my 
eyes or hair, but in the remarks I made last year on Dickson’s 
Matilda. It was the fifth season I had grown it. Now in the sixth I 
have one plant a green-edged, and a beautiful thing it then is: indeed, 
it always is that, though by reason of its short and unequal footstalks 
