206 
THE FLORIST. 
I was asked the other day, by a friend and neighbour, if they were 
not subject to some peculiar diseases, which make it difficult to grow 
them ? Well, they are ; but I believe the worst one is “ quackery ” 
(by-the-by, more than Auriculas are affected by it). One has only to 
look into any old gardening book, and see the messes recommended for 
them, and our only wonder is, that, like the Dodo, they are not an 
extinct race. When I mention bullock’s blood, sugar bakers’ scum, 
goose dung, &c., it is certainly surprising that so delicate a plant has 
withstood so much ill-treatment. My first advice, then, to any one 
about to undertake to grow Auriculas is, avoid all quackery; there are 
four ingredients, and four only, necessary for their growth—cow-dung, 
loam, leaf-mould, and sharp sand or road grit. The three first must 
be well rotted, on this must depend, in a great measure, the success in 
growing. One-third of each of these is a good proportion, and enough 
sand or road-grit to keep it well open ; as you gain experience, you will 
find that some sorts require more of one or another of these, and you 
will, in potting, act accordingly ;—it will be well to have this prepared 
some time before potting, well mixed together' and frequently turned 
over to sweeten, for anything of a sour nature is an abomination to this 
very sensitive plant; and you may rely on it that nothing will give you 
healthy plants, if you neglect this first grand requisite. When and 
how to pot them are questions that have occasioned quite as much 
controversy as the dressing of a belle for a ball or the day for a pic-nic. 
It were needless to enter into the discussions upon the point; it is 
enough for me to say that I think the middle or end of July about the 
best time, for two reasons—the plants have had time to make growth 
after the blooming, and have also time to settle themselves before 
winter; consequently, you will not run so great a risk of autumn 
blooming as if you potted in May, as some recommend ; or, of damping 
in winter, if potted, as some recommend, in August. I find I have 
run out my allotted space, and must, therefore, only now give a list of 
some good and cheap varieties to commence. 
GREEN-EDGED. 
Waterloo (Smith) 
Lady Blucher (Clegg) 
Champion (Page) 
Lady Ann Wilbraham (Ollier) 
Imperator (Litton) 
Lord Nelson (Howard) 
GREY-EDGED. 
Complete (Sykes) 
Conqueror (Waterhouse) 
General Bolivar (Smith) 
Ringleader (Keynes) 
Lovely Ann (Oliver) 
Superb (Headly) 
Ne plus ultra (Fletcher) 
WHITE-EDGED. 
Conqueror (Popplewell) 
Glory (Taylor) 
True Briton (Hepworth) 
Incomparable (Taylor) 
SELFS. 
Blackbird (Spalding) 
Metropolitan (Redman) 
Mrs. Smith (Smith) 
Hannibal (Faulkner) 
ALINE. 
Conspicua 
Fair Rosamond 
Goliath 
King of the Alps 
