1882 .] 
AUBICULA MABEL.-ALPINE AUKICULAS.-FOBCING THE LILAC. 
57 
AURICULA MABEL. 
[Plate 560.] 
URING- the last few years a very large 
number of really good show Auriculas 
have been raised. Some of these have 
been exhibited, but by far the largest 
proportion of them are yet in the hands of 
the raisers. 
The Auricula cannot be propagated like a 
Verbena or Scarlet Pelargonium, and it is 
some time after a new variety has been ex¬ 
hibited as a seedling before it can be sent out 
or distributed to the public. The Rev. F. D. 
Horner, of Kirkby Malzeard, near Ripon, has 
been remarkably successful in this branch of 
floriculture; he has had an opportunity of 
crossing the very finest varieties, and, having 
done so in an intelligent manner, the result is 
that in all the classes—green, grey, white, and 
self-edged—he has flowers that have never yet 
been equalled, and which one would think 
could scarcely be surpassed. Next to Mr. 
Horner, I would mention Mr. B. Simonite, of 
Rough Bank, Sheffield, in his “ windy, bony 
strip,” who also has been doing wonders with 
the Auricula ; he has raised and sent out 
some really good seedlings, and is still raising 
them. I hear that other hybridisers are 
working earnestly in this fair field of flori¬ 
culture. 
Mr. Woodhead, of Shibden Head, near 
Halifax, has, I hear, also been very successful 
in raising seedlings, said to be of great merit; 
but I cannot speak from personal knowledge 
of them. We hope to see them at our ex¬ 
hibitions during the current seasoD. 
I have also been doing a little in this way, 
and have raised a few good seedlings. Amongst 
them Mabel, which is figured on the accom¬ 
panying plate, was raised in 1879 by crossing 
Marie (Chapman) with the pollen of Silvia 
(Douglas), and is a grey-edged variety of free 
growth. This flower was selected by the 
judges at the National Auricula Society’s Ex¬ 
hibition, held at South Kensington in 1881, 
not only as the best grey-edged Auricula, but 
also as the best Auricula of any class in the 
exhibition, and it was consequently awarded 
what the fanciers call the “ premium ” prize. 
It is of a dw’arf free-growing habit, and will 
not be slow of increase.—J as. Douglas, 
Ilford. 
ALPINE AURICULAS 
And the Last Wintee. 
f NE singular result of the mildness of the 
last winter has been the almost com¬ 
plete defoliation of a nice border of 
Alpine Auriculas, of which we have 
been rather proud for several years past. 
Last year at this time these were showing 
bloom, the leaves meeting each other and 
covering the ground. Now, March 2nd, they 
have hardly any leaves on them, and the flowers 
are very much later and not half so many of 
them. The plants are in the same place—a 
north-east border under a wall. They were 
top-dressed last summer after flowering, and 
made a good growth afterwards. They first 
began to lose their leaves early in December, 
and have been going on losing them more or 
less ever since. 
As this defoliation could hardly arise from 
the mildness of the winter, could it have been 
caused by the heavy rains of the last autumn ? 
Will some of our Auricula-growers kindly 
give their opinion, and say if their plants 
have suffered in the same way ? Also what 
remedy they would propose. A change of 
site ? Well, the plants have done so well for 
four years where they are, that I don’t wish 
to move them. Probably some one may say 
they should have been moved before. I 
should have fancied they might have become 
tired of their present quarters, had it not 
been for the fact that offsets that were planted 
in fresh quarters last summer have lost their 
leaves in the same way.—D. T. Fish, Hard- 
tvick Hall. 
FORCING THE LILAC. 
ORCING Lilacs to get the flowers white 
is a very easy process, if there is a 
good high mushroom-house or cellar. 
Lift some bushes of the very common 
variety, the larger the better, and cover the 
roots with old mats if soil is not at hand, 
keeping them moist. The less heat the better, 
if they are kept free from frost or sudden 
changes of temperature, for excess of heat 
brings the flower-spikes long, and with an 
unnatural appearance. Good large bushes 
produce a great quantity of bloom, and are 
none the worse for forcing again after a 
season’s rest. At the same time many ladies 
