CULTURE OF THE AURICULA. 
55 
greater in the Auricula than in most others. The offset is always 
a fac-simile of the mother plant; and therefore, when a choice 
variety has been once obtained, it is kept up in perfection by 
offsets. Sowing the seeds is an uncertain operation in this respect. 
Even when growing wild on its native hills, there are many 
varieties of colour ; and as varieties of colour are the principal 
changes obtained, even by the highest cultivation, the more atten¬ 
tion that is paid to the growth of the plants, the varieties of 
colour are more numerous. If any one variety is wished from 
seeds, the plants that are to produce the seeds must be placed at 
a distance from every other variety : and if a cross of two is 
sought, only these two must be left near each other ; but if the 
trial be for varieties entirely new, then a number of varieties must 
be allowed to run to seed in the same bed; and the experi¬ 
menter must take his chance of what may turn up. The seedlings 
may be worse than the best plants producing the seeds ; but 
out of a great number, some original and good varieties may be 
expected, though probably not more than one or two in a hundred 
seedlings. 
In order to obtain offsets of the most vigorous growth, and at 
the same time secure a fine bloom of the mother plant, it is 
necessary to thin out the offsets not wanted early in the season, 
and about the same time that the flowering-stems are reduced to 
a single truss. If either offsets or trusses prove to be numerous, 
they weaken the mother plant, and also each other, and the same 
holds with regard to the number of florets in a truss. Thinning 
out any of the three, throws the vegetable action of the removed 
one upon some other part of the plant; as, for instance, the action 
of removed offsets is thrown into the general system, that of 
removed trusses into the flowering system generally, and that of 
removed florets into such as are allowed to remain. By know¬ 
ing this, and paying strict attention to it, an Auricula may be 
cultivated to the express promoting of a number of purposes. 
If great vigour in the individual plant is required, the offsets must 
be removed early in the season, and before they have drained 
much of the substance of the mother plant; but if, on the other 
hand, the growth and flowering of the mother plant are matters 
of indifference, and the grand object is to multiply the plant by 
healthy suckers, these may be left on until the plant should have 
done flowering, if that appear to be at all necessary for their 
