THE COTTAGE 'GARDENER. 
81 
Ait.il 18. j 
through to the edge. Erom the edge of the paste to the 
outer edge of tlie Rower should he as wide as Iroui tlie 
centre of the tube to tlie outer edge ot the paste. In 
other words, the proportions of the Rower may he de¬ 
scribed by drawing four circles round a given point at 
equal distances; the first circle forming the tube, the 
second the white eye, the third the ground colour, and 
the fourth the outer edge of the Rower, and the nearer 
they approximate to this (except that the ground colour 
and green or grey edge may run into each other in fea¬ 
thery points) the better the flower. The colours should 
not be liable to fly, as is the defect of Stretch’s Alex¬ 
ander, the colours of which fade in three or four days. 
Of the Plant. —1. The stem should be strong, round, 
upright, elastic, bearing the truss upright without sup¬ 
port, and from four to seven inches high, so as to carry 
the truss well, but not too high above the leaves. 
2. The length and strength of the footstalks of the 
pips should be so proportioned to the number and size 
of these that all the pips may have room to show them¬ 
selves, and to form a compact semi-globular truss of 
flowers, not less than seven in number, without lapping 
over each other. The pips should be all alike in colour, 
size, and form, so as not to be easily distinguished from 
one another; for, otherwise, the unity and harmony ot the 
truss will be destroyed, and although ever so beautitully 
formed, would appear as if taken from different sorts of 
Auricula. An Auricula ought to blow freely, and ex¬ 
pand all its pips at the same time; for by this means the 
colours in them all will appear equally fresh and lively; 
whereas, in those trusses that do not open some of the 
pips till others have passed their prime, the whole ap¬ 
pearance of the truss is impaired. 
3. The truss is improved if one or more leaves grow, 
and stand up well behind the blooms; for it assists the 
truss, and adds much to the beauty ot the blooms by 
forming a green background. 
4. The foliage, or grass, should bo healthy, well-grown, 
and almost cover the pot.— Gaul, and Florist, i. 45. 
We are of opinion that all these criteria are founded 
upon the dictates of correct taste; but, as these excel¬ 
lencies are never combined in one variety, and as some, 
being equals in many qualities, are mutually superior 
in others, the question constantly arises at Auricula 
exhibitions as to which variety has the preponderance 
of merit. Now, we are clearly ot opinion that form, 
including in this the relative proportions of the colours 
on the pips, the half globular form of the truss, the 
number of pips, &c., is by far the most striking excel¬ 
lence in an Auricula. Next to this, we should place the 
harmony, or, as we should prefer, the agreeable contrast, 
or complemental association of the colours. 
Of tlie Pairs. —Auriculas are usually exhibited two 
specimens together, or “ in pairs.” These should be of 
equal height and size in all their parts—leaves as well 
as blooms—for it is offensive to the eye to see a dwarf 
by the side of a tall-growing specimen. It is also desi¬ 
rable that the colours should differ — thus, a green- 
i edged and a white edged, a dark ground colour and a 
light ground colour, should go together. Rut we do not 
attach so much importance to this diversity of colour as 
some judges do. We think it should have no weight 
further than that if two competing pairs are exactly of 
equal merit in other respects, tlie prize should be 
awarded to the pair of best contrasted colours. But the 
slightest superiority in any characteristic of the pip or 
truss, we think, ought to prevail over this mere matter of 
taste, for the other characteristics are evidences of better 
cultivation. 
THE ERUIT-G ARDEN. 
Vine Dkessing. —There needs no apology for return¬ 
ing so soon to the subject of vine culture : this being the 
fruit which, of all others in-doors, concerns the greatest 
number of our readers; and now cheap glass and cheap 
bricks are to be had, we trust to see the day when almost 
every respectable tradesman will have his vinery—even 
in his work-yard, together with a shelf or stage for a few 
popular flowers. Assuredly our labours shall be so di¬ 
rected towards the simplification of matters, as to render 
vine culture quite easy to the most ordinary capacity. 
At page 310, root management was adverted to; we 
now proceed to that of the branches ; and we must 
divide the subject a little. 
The Leading Shoot of Young \ inks. — V hen vines 
arc newly planted, they are always headed back close, or 
nearly so, to the point where they are introduced into 
the house. This is a necessary course, for two reasons : 
first, they commence growth with more vigour in con¬ 
sequence ; and, secondly, it is desirable that the first 
shoot should be uniform in character, and tree from 
those crooked knots which point, during years after, to 
an untoward commencement. Every gardener, almost, 
prides himself on his young vines reaching the back of 
tlie house the season they are planted ; and this they 
will do, be they ever so small, if under first-rate culture. 
This pruned shoot, then, will “ push two, sometimes 
three, eyes; or it may be more ; and many persons in¬ 
judiciously disbud forthwith all but one leading one, 
in order, as they say, to strengthen the leader. Now, it 
does no such thing. The leader will be best strengthened 
by encouraging a speedy and healthy root-action; and 
to effect this a strong reciprocal action between root and 
top must first take place. Suffer, therefore, every bud 
that pushes to ramble in freedom fora month or so, 
and then means may be taken, progressively, to give the 
leader the pre-eminence. This must be done by first 
pinching off the point ot the shoot to be done away, 
in a week or so the next surplus shoot may be pinched, 
and so on with others. These will soon begin to push 
out laterals, and such must be pinched similarly. These 
spurs, or snags, will thus appear like tufts or little vine 
bushes through the summer, lull ot healthy leaves, 
which, iustead of drawing on the resources of the 
parent, will add to the general stock, and may, if properly 
j situated, be made to bear in the ensuing spring. 
The principal leader by this time will be so enlarged' 
in capacity, as to be thoroughly prepared to carry out, 
for the rest of the year, that powerful reciprocity of 
action which fills the border with healthy roots, and the 
j house with strong and sound wood. 
As soon as the leader begins to acquire some strength, 
lateral shoots will be progressively developed all up the 
stem ; and now a little judgment is necessary to know 
how to husband the resources ot the tree, in tact, to 
encourage plenty of fibres in the border, by means ol a 
healthy growth, and plenty ot leaves; and yet to take 
care that the dormant buds which are to lruit the next 
year are thoroughly perfected, through a due exposure 
