AURICULA. 213 



Sonic cultivators of these flowers sow the seed in 

 pots, about six inches over the top, and six deep, 

 filled half full with coal ashes or cinders, for the 

 sake of drainage ; the seed being covered as thin 

 as possible with compost, and the pots covered with 

 a hand-glass, and placed in a situation where it 

 receives only the morning sun. These glasses are 

 not to be taken off, but the water sprinkled over 

 them will afford sufficient moisture to the earth. 

 The front of a green-house, or a cool frame, is re- 

 commended for these pots. 



As the spring is the season we desire to have 

 our Auriculas in flower, all the autumnal buds 

 should be carefully taken off to strengthen the 

 plants for the early flowering ; and as the Auricula 

 blossoms at the same season of the year that the 

 Hyacinth and Jonquil flower, a most desirable 

 assemblage for the house may be formed, by a ju- 

 dicious mixture of these plants being placed on a 

 window table, with a sunk centre to receive the 

 depth of the pots, which should for this purpose be 

 of a square shape, so as to fit close, as well as to 

 exactly fill the space in the table. These little 

 table gardens are a great ornament to the saloon 

 in the spring, and often beguile the time of the in- 

 valid in the most happy manner ; for, in whatever 

 situation we meet with fine flowers, they give a 

 calm cheerfulness conducive to health, and the 



