Plate 108 . 
AURICULAS—GEORGE LXGHTBODY AND 
SOUTHERN STAR. 
Primula Auricula , var. 
After many years of neglect, as far as the south of England 
is concerned, this beautiful spring flower seems once more to 
be rapidly rising into favour. The prizes offered for it at the 
spring shows of the Royal Botanic and Royal Horticultural 
Societies have greatly encouraged growers, and the large num¬ 
ber of plants brought together at the first National Auricula 
Show, held on the 30th April, at the Royal Botanic Society’s 
Gardens, enabled the general public to seeAhe peculiar charms 
which belong to this class of Flora’s beauties. 
There is, as was observed by many of those who 'witnessed 
the National Show, a special charm about these very unique 
flowers. The regularity of their colours, the curious rnealy- 
looking powder which marks some, and the handsome foliage 
of many of the varieties, are to be met with in no other tribe, 
and it is not wonderful that growers have been so enthusiastic 
over their particular favourites; and one had but to notice the 
eager groups, on the occasion alluded to, discussing the merits 
of the various plants, to see how completely their minds were 
engaged about them, paid how unwilling they would have been 
to have admitted any other flower on an equality with them. 
We have selected two for our present illustration; one, 
George Lightbody , raised by our esteemed friend Mr. Headly, 
of Stapleford, near Cambridge, received the premier prize at 
the National Show, as being the best flower exhibited in about 
300 plants. This is a high honour, but no higher than it de¬ 
serves. We once regarded it as inferior to that very fine flower, 
Lancashire Hero , and expressed an opinion to that effect, which 
however now we willingly retract. It is a flower of very re- 
