292 
THE FLORIST. 
some way. Elegans, Curviflorus, Herberti, Robin Hood, and Specio- 
sus, are all conspicuous for a distinct white stripe on a rich pink 
salmon ground, and Loddigesii, Habranthus, Augustus, with the 
same colours, have a beautiful crimson stripe alternating with the 
white. Trimaculatus and Venus are of a delicate cream, each with 
handsome pink stripes. Colvillii has a habit peculiar to itself alone, 
and is one of the earliest to bloom; it is of a beautiful pink and 
crimson, striped with yellow; there are now two hybrids of it, Col¬ 
villii superbus and Colvillii blandus, both distinct varieties ; the latter 
much darker and richer in shading. Albus and Nanus are the 
nearest approaches to white, the latter beautifully striped with crim¬ 
son. I now come to a new variety, raised by Mr. Ball of Taunton, 
I believe, named Rex Rubrorum, which perhaps, for novelty and 
magnificence, ought to be placed first. It is of a beautiful form, and 
of a peculiar rich dark crimson; and I am led to think, by crossing 
this with some of the other named early varieties, we shall obtain a 
welcome addition to our collections. There are some other new 
varieties raised and sent out by Van Houtte, but I have not succeeded 
in flowering any particularly worthy of notice. I have now given a 
list of a few select early varieties, and if a few remarks on the plant¬ 
ing will be considered worthy of insertion, I will add a few words. 
To ensure a brilliancy and long continuance of bloom, they should 
be planted out of doors, as I find under glass they do not possess 
either of the above qualities. All the varieties I have named are 
hardy with me, having a light soil; but with a slight protection they 
will stand a winter any where,—a little dry litter distributed over the 
ground will suffice. They should be planted by the end of the pre¬ 
sent month, or commencement of November, but the autumn varie¬ 
ties should not be planted till the spring. They will succeed and 
bloom in almost any soil; but if heavy, a proportion of sand will be 
found beneficial. Some of the sorts increase very fast, and I hope 
some day they will be sold by the hundred, as Tulips, &c. ; but at 
present the)?- are priced from about Is. to 5s. a root. The hybrid 
varieties are to be had much cheaper, and are worthy of cultivation. 
If the above remarks give satisfaction, I shall be happy at another 
time to send a list of the autumn blooming kinds. 
October 1848. Orion. 
[We shall be most happy to insert our correspondent’s future communica¬ 
tions. If he would favour our readers with the part he resides iu — the county 
will do—it will add to the obligation.— Editor.] 
THE ALPINE AURICULA. 
This beautiful flower belongs to the order Primulacida, and is one of 
our most interesting spring visitants. It differs from the Auricula 
proper principally in the colour of the eye, which, in the Alpine 
Auricula, is yellow. Generally speaking, very little advance appears 
