The choice florists' varieties are divided into five classes: - the green-edged, with the margins of the flowers green the grey-edged, with the green margins powdered with meal so as to appear to be coloured grey the white-edged, with the mealy powder so dense as to cover the green the selfs, which have none of the green variegation of margin seen in the foregoing, but are of some distinct colour, as purple, maroon, &c., but have, like the preceding, a white paste surrounding the eye and the alpines, which resemble the self s in not having any green marginal variegation, but differ in having a yellow centre more or less dense. This and the commoner forms raised from seed, as well as one or two double forms, are interesting hardy border flowers. The original of the auricula is a hardy perennial herb, of dwarf habit, bearing dull yellowish blossoms. But some varieties are very shy in producing offsets. The established varieties are increased by taking off the offshoots, an operation performed at the time of potting in July or the beginning of August. They generally flower in the second or third year, a few good sorts being all that can be expected from a large sowing. When seed has been saved from the finer sorts, the operation is one of considerable nicety, as it not unfrequently happens that the best seedlings are at first exceedingly weak. No protection will be needed except in very severe frosts, when two or three thicknesses of garden mats may be thrown over the glass, and allowed to remain on until the soil is thawed, should it become frozen.Īuriculas may be propagated from seed, which is to be sown as soon as ripe, in July or August, in boxes, kept under cover, and exposed only to the rays of the morning sun. This frame should face the north from May to October, and south in winter. from the glass the spaces between the shelves should be closed, while the top board of the back and the front should be hinged so as to be let down when desired for ventilation, the sashes, too, being movable for the same purpose, and also to afford facilities for examining and attending to the plants. broad, with a rise of 2 in., should be fixed so as to take each one row of pots, with the plants standing at about 15 in. from the ground, and provided with hinged sashes.Ī graduated stage formed of wood battens 6 in. In potting press the soil rather firmly around the roots." Auriculas are best grown in a cold frame mounted on legs about 2 ft. The old soil should be shaken from the roots of the plants to be potted and before potting cut off, if necessary, a portion of the main root. of potsherds should be placed in the bottom of each pot, and over this some fibrous turf, from which the fine particles of earth have been removed. The pots to be used should be from 3 to 41 in. The compost should consist of turfy loam four parts, leaf-mould one part, sharp river or silver sand one part, and a few bits of broken charcoal mixed with it. Thus Mr Douglas writes ( Hardy Florists' Flowers): - " There is no mystery, as some suppose, about the potting, any more than there is about the potting material. The florists' varieties are grown in rich composts, for the preparation of which numberless receipts have been given but many of the old nostrums are now exploded, and a more rational treatment has taken their place. It loves a cool soil and shady situation. AURICULA ( Primula auricula), an Alpine plant, which has been an inmate of British gardens for about three hundred years, and is still prized by florists as a favourite spring flower.
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