170 THE. FLORIST. 
such a foundation... But, alas! the days of romance’are over with me, — 
and I hope I shall not be found even romancing, as some, I think, — 
have done on the subject of Auricula growing. ‘There’s my friend ~ 
‘“‘®,” the very moment he begins to read this, will take his pair of» 
compasses and foot rule, to: measure my statements, while that philo-- 
sopher ‘‘ Iota ’’ is ready to prove to demonstration that they were not” 
Auriculas I saw at all. However, with all this, I will venture. . 
Plantation, as Dr. Plant calls his place, with some little play on his” 
own name, is a prettily situated villa, near Monkstown, about: five 
miles from Dublin, and has long been celebrated for the florists’ flowers ' 
grown there; for not only is Dr. P..a grower of Auriculas, but also of 
Carnations, Picotees, Tulips, and Roses. The gardens, twoin number, © 
close to one another, are models of a florist’s garden—of course there is ” 
no attempt at bedding out, no geometric beds—but nothing is attempted — 
that is not done thoroughly well; and I wish that those who say a 
florist’s garden is always untidy, and who would especially look for that » 
among ‘‘them Hirish,” could see it; for it is the very picture of neat- — 
ness; there is not a weed to be ‘seen, and though the Tulip beds are ~ 
raised above the level of the walk, yet the boards by which that is ~ 
effected are hidden bya high box edging, which runs all round, while 
a high hedge separates the frames where the Auriculas: are wintered. © 
The beds of Tulips looked most vigorous and healthy, while the Car- 
nations in pots were making, even then, way ahead. It seems not to ~ 
signify what flower Dr. Plant takes in hand, he is sure to succeed with 
it. His Rose trees were magnificent, and 1 doubt not that the fine air © 
of the neighbourhood, and the shelter which his garden enjoys, con- 
tribute in no slight degree to a result which, however, can only be 
obtained by persevering application and great knowledge of the flowers. 
Dr. Plant says, as far as Tulips are concerned, that he has some 
of the finest breeders in the world. I begin to feel an interest in the 
flower, and I suppose it only requires me to do so, to make me a 
floral maniac. But, after all, the Auriculas are the charm of “ Planta- 
tion,” and to see and report on them my visit was specially made; 
they have been the admiration of all who have any knowledge of the 
flower; they have always, or nearly always, led the van in prizes at 
the Royal Horticultural Society’s spring show, and they have been the 
subject of the most astounding praises ; in the latter line, a paper which 
appeared in “‘ Gossip for the Garden,” written by one of the editors, 
took the palm. It spoke of trusses ten inches across! a statement 
which was rather roughly handled by “ ®,” and one which, notwith- 
standing that Ihave always maintained that Dr. Plant is the best 
Auricula grower in the world, I could not then, nor can I now, endorse. 
I shall, then, attempt to give an account of his stock, and then a few 
hints as to what I believe to be his method of growing. The stock ~ 
consists of about (I should say) 1000 plants; of these about 600 are © 
bloomers, but if any one goes there expecting to see all the varieties 
grown he will be mistaken, for the number of sorts is comparatively | 
limited, and this to me constitutes a great defect in the collection. © 
There are not, as near as I could judge, more than five or six of each © 
class ; these are varieties which, from long experience, Dr. P. ‘knows 
