66 
THE FLORIST’S JOURNAL. 
POLYANTHUS. 
Class, Pentandria. Order, Monogynia. 
Natural Order, Primulace^e. 
The Polyanthus, in the structure of its roots, tuber, stem, 
leaves, and mode of flowering, resembles its sister the Auricula ; 
and it is as much a production of art. Being naturally a native 
of moist woods and meadows, is much hardier, and better suited 
to the soil and climate of British gardens, than the Auricula. It 
differs, moreover, in being a variety only, and not, like the other, 
a distinct species. 
Its propagation, whether from seeds or offsets, and its cultiva¬ 
tion, either as a bed or stage flower, is, in almost all respects, 
similar to the Auricula. The difference in the treatment only 
requires to be noticed. 
The compost for the Polyanthus does not require to be so rich 
as that for the Auricula. The principal part should be fresh and 
rather sandy loam, mixed with moderate portions of leaf mould 
and well-rotted old hot-bed or cow-duns:. 
They may be flowered in pots for the purpose of being shewn, 
placed on a stage, in a conservatory or boudoir ; but, soon as 
they have done flowering, they should be immediately turned out 
into a north or east open border. Their fibres being very attenu¬ 
ated are liable to be hurt by drought, and consequently require a 
more equable degree of both heat and moisture than they can 
receive in pots. But, if in pots, they should be kept plunged in 
the ground in a similar place ; i. e. on a border having an east or 
north aspect. 
They are commonly cultivated on such borders, because they 
succeed best. An east aspect seems most congenial to them : 
they delight in the early sun, whether of the year or of the day. 
If the natural soil of the border be unsuitable, the top spit, to the 
depth of twelve inches, should be taken out, and in the bottom of 
the excavation should be laid a stratum of rotten cow-duno-, two 
inches thick. This is not intended to be reached except by the 
extreme points of the fibres, should they descend so far, but to 
serve as a reservoir of moisture, and a source of gaseous vapour 
