THE AURICULA.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2251, 20 June 1881, Page 4

THE AURICULA.

A writer in the “ Gardener’s Chronicle ” of April 16th describes 3 visit to the garden of the Rev. F. D. Horner, a famous auricula grower. It will surprise many lovers of this beautiful flower to bo told that the standard varieties which have kept their position for at least half a century are being superseded by the new aspirants for fame raised by Mr Horner. Five years ago this month of April I first visited the Bsv. F. D. Horner, and spent a few hours most pleasurably and enjoyably with him amongst the auriculas. Again I have been privileged to compare his collection this year with what it was in 1876. And what a change is there ! In that year we lingered over the well-finished trusses of Lady Blucher, Lady Ann Wilbraham, Anna, &0., and greatly admired the beautiful green edge of Prince of Greens, and hoped that some day a variety would bo raised having all its merits without its failings. In grey edges George Lightbody and Lancashire Hero were stars of the first magnitude ; these, with Complete, Ringleader, Beauty, Dr. Horner, and Richard Headley, were the cream of this class. In white edges John Simonite was just coming into notice, and Smiling Beauty was in grand form, but the remainder of the collection was composed of such sorts as Ann Smith, Earl Grosvenor, True Briton, Miss Ashley, and Bright Venus. In seifs, Kay’s Topsy, Pizsrro, Lord Clyde, Lord Lome, Charles J. Perry, &0., held the chief places. Now all is cha'nged ; seedlings of Mr Horner’s own raising will take the place of the old named varieties. None of them will bo retained except George Lightbody (Headley) and Lancashire Hero (Lancashire) ; even James Heap’s justly admired Smiling Beauty must go with the others, although it will remain long- in the memory of auricula fanciers as the beat in its class.

How has this change been brought about ? may well bo asked. About ten years ago Mr Horner began a systematic method of crossing auriculas to obtain certain results; quietly end steadily during the intervening years greater and greater progress has been made, and the result up to the present time is now before us. I well remember on the occasion of my first visit going over the collection of 2000 seedlings, many of them in bloom, and how interested we became in the new colours and quaint forms of many of them, until Mr Horner remarked that they were “ amusing in their absnrdity ;” bnt amongst these eccentric varieties there were a few flowers of groat merit. These were crossed and re-crossed with other seedlings and named varieties in successive years. It is an old saying that “ What man has done man con do.” To fanciers with collections, and to others just starting to grow auriculas, I would say, get all the best varieties that are to be obtained, grow them well, and raise seedlings, too, from the best varieties. The amateur who has seedlings to anticipate, has his enjoyment many times increased. Thera are many other growers at work raising seedlings, notably Mr Simonite, of Sheffield, but their efforts must be dealt with at another time.

At present it is enough to say that the seedlings at Kirkby, in all the classes but grey, far surpass the efforts of all previous seedling raisers put together. Beginning with the green edges I cannot name a variety that has not very serious faults in the eye of an amateur; Anna (Trail) is a poor grower, and has a starry body color; Colonel Taylor (Leigh) is very inconstant, and Prince of Greses (Trail) has a pale watery eye which dies off inky. Mr Horner’s greatest success in green edges is a seedling of 1879, No. 13. It has the petal and form of George Lightbody with a perfect green edge, black ground color, round, dense, pure white paste, and yellow tuba. Next to it we placed Enterprise, olive-green edge, well opened petal, dense round paste, and black ground color, yellow eye. Emerald, rich deep green, dark maroon ground color, rather heavy dense paste with yellow tube, truss large. Sibyl, from the same seed-pod as Heroine, has a lively green edge, maroon body, good paste and yellow tube. This is much superior to the old Page’s Champion. Minotaur is another variety with deep olive-green edge, black body, tube pale yellow. There are yet two more green-edged flowers having good points, and, like the others, without any spots of farina on the green. Benjamin Simonite and Bichard Gorton were not sufficiently developed, but one pip open on Ben was quite first-rate. In grey edges I only noticed a seedling raised some years ago named Ajax ; it is a good and distinct flower, but cannot displace George Lightbody or Hero. There are other promising flowers, but they are not yet developed.

In white edges one of the moat promising is a seedling flowered for the first time this year. It is in the way of Smiling Beanty, but has a pure white edge, which Heap’s flower has not, a black ground colour and golden tube. Water lily is a distinct and striking flower, very large and flat, pure white edge, block body colour, and wide and pure paste, gold tube, and green neat foliage. May Queen, very round, smooth, and white edge, quite black ground color, yellow tube, and fine truss of seven-pips. There are many distinct and good white-edged flowers, but these three are the cream. Frank Simonito, now being sent out by Mr Simonito, was very distinct and good. In sells there are some beautiful and die* tinot things ; the most striking, I think,

was Constance, cobalt-blue, round, and pnre paste; petals what the fanciers call roseleaved. Dora has most beautiful pure white foliage; colour of pips blue with a mauve shade, good paste. Selina, a good maroon flower with round dense paste ; pips very large. There are also some good crimson seifs from Duke of Argyll ; one with green foliage wi'l bo heard of again. I think the green foliage makes a better sotting for the crimson truss. Kingdom was flowering freely, and maintaining its first promise of goodness. It may bo described as a vastly improved Topsy. Mazzini (Pohlman) had a noble truss opening, and will take a high position amongst dark seifs. Sunshine is a clear yellow self, with very good qualities, notably a better paste than in any of the old form.