April 24, 1886. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
of 1849 that in the year 1732 the edged flowers were not 
generally recognised ; but in a code of rules for judging 
Auriculas, “flakes” and “stripes” are mentioned as 
important adornments of the flowers that were in favour 
in 1732. Mr. Slater in his Amateur Florist’s Guide, 
gives a list of proper edged flowers that were in cul¬ 
tivation in 1776, and in my paper, read here in 1882, I 
assumed—I still think properly—that some of these 
were in existence in 1750, or earlier. The varieties 
known as Pott’s Eclipse, Rule Arbiter, and Hortaine, 
were in cultivation in 1757. About 1785 the edged 
varieties were plentiful, and amongst them were 
Grimes’s Privateer, Popplewell’s Conqueror, Gorton’s 
Champion, and Wrigley’s Northern Hero, which are 
still in cultivation, not as arclneological curiosities, hut 
because they are good and have retained their initial 
vigour as cultivated plants for upwards of a hundred 
years. 
The Earliest Edged-Flower. 
In fixing a date for the earliest record of an undoubted 
edged flower, I am indebted for valuable aid to my 
friend Mr. Harrison Weir, who, in a communication to 
the Gardeners' Chronicle of May 6th, 1882, refers 
to Sir Thomas Moore’s Flower Garden Displayed 
published 1734. In this work many Auriculas are 
described, some of them introduced from Holland, and 
others raised in this country. It is important to note 
that the Dutch and the English varieties appear to 
differ as Alpines and true Auriculas, both classes finding 
favour here, but the English raisers having an especial 
affection for Auriculas proper, as apart from the Alpine 
section. Now, it is of the highest importance to 
observe that amongst many flowers of a class known as 
“painted ladies,” because delicately improved, as the 
ladies of that day were, with a dusting of white powder, 
several are described as striped, and one as distinctly 
edged. The edged flower is called Honour and Glory ; 
it is said to have “a good white eye, and the flower 
striped with a dark reddish purple on a white ground, 
so as to leave the edge of the flower white. ” I repeat 
that this contribution to the history is important, 
because it not only places before us an undoubted edged 
flower, but it shows that the difference between stripes 
and edges was recognised. More than this, it shows 
that striped flowers were much valued, for one called 
the Royal Widow was sold for 10 guineas, but the 
value of the edged flower is not suggested. It would 
be delightful could we find in the winning stands of the 
present season an example of the edged flower of 1734, 
which was very different to Parkinson’s green with 
purple edge. As we cannot find the flower, we will 
look for Honour and Glory of a larger kind. Perhaps 
in the soundness of our work, and the sweetness of our 
tempers, and the earnestness of our hopes, we may be 
promoting a higher and wider appreciation of the 
Auricula, in which case honour and glory are secured, 
and we may safely proceed in the good old way 
according to the sacred precept, “Whatsoever thy 
hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might.” 
Whence came the Florists’ Auricula. 
Let us now ask the question, Whence came the 
Florists’ Auricula 1 Charles Darwin, in Forms of Flowers, 
page 43, derives it from Primula pubescens, which is 
represented as a hybrid between P. Auricula and P. 
liirsuta. Herbert, in Horticultural Transactimis, vol. 
iv., p. 19, considers P. Auricula, P. helvetica, P. 
nivalis, and P. viscosa to have been concerned in the 
parentage. Indeed, Mr. Herbert considered he had 
raised a powdered Auricula from P. nivalis, which may 
be regarded as a wliite-flowered variety of villosa of 
Jacquin. As he gives no description, it is impossible to 
say whether his plant would pass for an Auricula if 
brought up for judgment here to-day ; but he was not 
the kind of man to make any glaring mistake, and his 
plant must have differed from nivalis to entitle it 
to such special mention. Mr. Herbert, at the same 
reference, suggested that P. Auricula, P. helvetica, P. 
nivalis, and P. viscosa are but varieties of one and the 
same species. To the list may be added hirsuta, 
pubescens, minima, and nivea ; for in truth we are 
now trading in names, and we shall have to be careful 
that we do not mistake shadows for substances. In his 
Die Geschicte der Aurikel Professor Kernel- avows his 
belief that Primula Auricula is not subject to variations, 
and that it probably did not keep a place in gardens for 
any length of time beyond the middle of the seven¬ 
teenth century. But then he obtains for the making 
of the garden flower the blood of P. Auricula and P. 
hirsuta, which he regards as the parents of P. pubescens; 
and from this last, a reputed hybrid, he derives both 
the edged and the Alpine varieties. This proposal will 
not be accepted by many of the raisers of seedlings, 
whose experiences have rendered them familiar with 
the peculiarities of both classes. It affords but poor 
promise of an explanation of the persistency of the 
yellow colour and the farinosa decoration of the show 
flowers. Nor does it satisfactorily explain the shaded 
margin and the persistently naked leaf of the Alpine 
section. As regards the yellow of the shoiv flower, it 
does not appear in its true proportions to the casual eye; 
hut if you will carefully v T ash away the paste, you will 
find that it is laid upon a yellow ground. It seems to 
he the function of paste to play a game of deception. 
Kerner’s views have been partially approved by Mr. J. 
G. Baker, of Kew; but he appears to lean to Primula 
Balbisi as a prominent progenitor, and he associates 
the edged flowers and the Alpines as at least not 
specifically distinct. The Rev. F. D. Horner, who 
combines experience as a raiser with knowledge of species 
and a fine faculty of observation, reckons Primula 
farinosa, P. Scotica, P. marginata, P. intermedia, and 
P. viscosa as concerned in the parentage ; and probably 
he would separate the edged flowers from the Alpines 
as of different origin. 
Finally, I propose to you that we may with advantage 
regard the edged or show Auricula and the Alpine 
Auricula as, for present purposes, specifically distinct. 
The general agreement of the Alpines is with P. commu- 
tata and P. Pedemontana, the last named being 
emphatically reflected in it. On the other hand, P. 
ciliata of Moretti may be associated with P. Auricula 
as concerned in the formation of the florists’ flo-wer. 
But, after all, this is like arguing in a circle. The 
two that I have selected as begetters of each group are 
specifically one or two at the discretion of the botanists, 
as they may take broad or narrow views, We are in 
the same plight as regards the Primulas as we were in 
regard to the Daffodils before the Congress operated, 
when, as you will remember, a great reduction of the 
species was carried into effect. I will venture now to 
say that the employment of names in the expression of 
our ideas as to the origin of the Auricula must be subject 
to the possible reduction of names by the revising 
committee. I can find a dozen or more so-called species 
that are possible parents of the Auricula, but as I 
question their specific independence 1 do not feel that 
making a catalogue is, in this case, the solution of a 
problem in biology. As for Paulinuri, I cut short the 
connection by dismissing it as a possible progenitor of 
Auriculas. ( To be continued.) 
-- 
Scottis h Gar dening. 
Seasonable Notes. —Fruit trees, in some cases, 
remind one that (though late as the season is) they re¬ 
quire attention, which is frequently neglected, and thus 
causes disappointment which might often be avoided. 
The disbudding period has now arrived, and to do this 
work properly, it is not well to make a clearance of all 
the shoots at one time, but to go over the trees at 
different periods, taking off those which are growing 
outwards. Strong and sappy shoots are generally worth¬ 
less, and should not be retained except there is vacant 
space to fill up. Such gross shoots should be topped to 
reduce their strength. Where fruit are set and setting, 
it is well to allow the young foliage to remain as pro¬ 
tection till injury from frost need not be feared. A 
good supply of young growths to fill up vacant space 
is always desirable, but crowding them where they 
cannot develop their foliage is always productive of 
mischief ; a shoot beyond the fruit, and another as 
close to the base of the wood now fruiting is indispen¬ 
sable. This is applicable to Plums, Peaches, Apricots, 
and Morello Cherries. 
Young trees lately planted may be reduced to the 
number of shoots which are to form branches. They 
may all be trained upwards this season, and next year 
can be taken down to their places. Some attention 
will be necessary to equalize the growth ; stopping 
gross shoots which will throw up several others, thus 
filling the wall at the beginning. We believe in 
abundance of growth at first, which should be spread 
all over the space. Most of the work of training 
should have attention during the growing season. If 
trees are to fill a small space only, the roots will have 
to be kept in check ; but where proper caution at 
planting time has been taken, there will be little 
tr o ^ 
DO 5 
difficulty in the management for several years. One 
reads so much about “extension” methods of fruit 
tree growing ; this is the oldest system, and need not 
be objected to where means can be allowed to grow 
large trees. Generally the moderate or curtailed system 
is the most popular, because few care about confining 
themselves to a limited variety, which is inevitable 
with large trees only ; and if a large tree has to be 
removed, there is a blank for some years, but if there 
are numerous free-bearing small trees, the loss is pro¬ 
portionately less. We think that all ordinary walls— 
also orchards—should be well filled with trees in the 
course of three to five years, and in full bearing. 
Grafting may now be finished. Such work can be 
done much later in some districts than others, and this 
season gives a period of nearly three weeks later than 
usual. Bullfinches may now be troublesome, and we 
do not know an effectual remedy of checking them, 
except destroying the birds, but they are so beautiful one 
does not like to resort to extirpation. Threads and 
feathers scare birds for a short time—the netting of 
bush-fruits is effectual, but it is only where quantity 
is limited that one can practise this. 
Shrubs. —The planting of evergreens is generally 
practised with the best results at this season (decid¬ 
uous trees are mostly planted by the early part of April). 
If the soil is dry and sandy a good mulching of short- 
manure is of great benefit in protecting the roots from 
drought ; a soaking of water given before the top soil 
is placed may be necessary, and probably little more 
will be required for weeks to come. If the season 
should be moist the less the water-pot is used the better; 
half measures should be strictly avoided. Where shrubs 
may be brown at the tips of the branches a general 
trimming-may be given; and where there are such trees 
as standard Thorns, Acacias, Laburnums, Mountain Ash 
and such like—which are to be kept round-headed—now 
is a good time to use the knife on them. Shrubs of 
rapid growth taking the lead with unequal shoots should 
be cut accordingly ; double-headed coniferee may have 
the leaders reduced to one. Ivy always holds firmly to 
buildings when well trimmed in every year. When 
done with shears, just before the growth begins, the 
space is soon covered with a mass of green foliage. 
This also keeps sparrows, rats, and other creatures from 
harbouring in the tangled masses of foliage, often seen 
on old buildings. A general trimming with knife 
to all climbing and other plants should be done before 
growth extends far ; the strong shoots should be tied 
securely. If the trained shrubs are to flower in summer 
provision must be made to allow the flowering wood to 
develop freely — mistakes are sometimes made by 
cutting off the flowering wood formed the previous 
season. Roses should he overhauled on walls ; climbing 
kinds should only be thinned.— M. T. 
-- 3 =**-- 
The Am ateurs’ Garden. 
THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. 
Many seeds have yet to be sown, and, unfortunately, 
those that have been in the ground for several weeks 
have made but little progress, and crops of all kinds 
will be very late. Although there has been some fine 
weather, the soil continues very cold owing to the frosts 
which have occurred on nearly every clear night this 
month. A few Peas are showing in the rows, but the 
earliest are not more than 2 ins. high, and it is evident 
we shall have to wait with a large share of patience for 
our first gathering. Cold rains, and even snow or hail, 
have not improved the condition of things as regards 
vegetables, but they are effectually retarding the fruit 
tree flower buds, and we are hopefully counting on a 
bountiful fruit harvest. 
Seed-sowing must be still continued, and as the 
season is so advanced, it will be wise to complete the 
principal part as soon as possible, for if the weather 
should become hot suddenly it will not be favourable 
to the operation. Parsnips and Carrots may be now 
sown for the main supply, and a few of these are always 
acceptable from the garden although they can be pur¬ 
chased so cheaply. Perhaps Parsnips are not such 
general favourites as the others, but they are very 
nutritious and easily grown in ordinary soil, and even 
in poor soil we have had extremely sweet little roots, 
but their size would not satisfy some people, and to 
obtain good roots the soil must be deep, well worked, 
and fairly rich. The excessively large roots frequently 
