THE FLORAL WOELD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 38 



difficult to propagate and grow. It is this consideration that should 

 induce us to hail with pleasure the improved race of Alpines, as they 

 are so much hardier iu constitution, and of a freer habit than the 

 others, so that any one with ordinary abilities and the time to attend 

 to them, may grow a collection tolerably well. They are by no 

 means deficient in beauty, aud some people prefer them to the show 

 varieties. When I first thought about offering a few suggestions upon 

 the culture of these plants, I intended confining myself entirely to 

 the Alpines, but as the treatment of all is the same, I prefer to 

 speak of Auriculas generally. 



The first point to be thought about is the soil. I have used 

 many different composts since I first began to grow Auriculas, and I 

 am bound to say that few plants are more simple in their habits 

 than these. If they are potted in too rich a compost, it is just the 

 same with them as it is with overfed beasts, or anything else. It 

 impairs the constitution so far as to render it tender and unable to 

 endure the various vicissitudes that it has to encounter. I have 

 used a compost for many years past, in which my plants do remark- 

 ably well. It consists of good turfy loam, chopped up rather fine, 

 but with the whole of the fibre retained, one part ; cow-dung rotted 

 to a powder, one part ; thoroughly decayed leaf-mould, one part. 

 When these are all mixed together I add a peck of night soil to a 

 barrowful of the other constituents. The night soil I use is seven 

 or eight years old, and so thoroughly rotted as to be scarcely distin- 

 guishable from ordinary garden soil. It is highly important that the 

 night soil is not used too fresh, or it will undoubtedly seriously injure 

 the plants. Sufficient sharp silver sand must ba added to make the 

 whole gritty and porous. 



During November, December, and January, the plants are dor- 

 mant, and all the attention required during that period will be to 

 keep them free from decayed foliage and aphides. The frames in 

 which they are grown must be freely ventilated when the weather is 

 mild, and they must have sufficient water to prevent the foliage 

 flagging. In giving the water, be very careful not to let it run into 

 the hearts of the plants ; and if by chance any does, drain it out by 

 tilting the plants bottom upwards, for if allowed to remain, it will 

 invariably rot the centre. This must be attended to at all times of 

 the year, but more particularly in the winter. When the weather is 

 frosty the ventilators must be closed, aud when very sharp it will be 

 well to throw a mat over the lights during the night. About the 

 second week in February top-dress with equal proportions of the 

 above-mentioned compost and cow-dung. Eemove about half an 

 inch of the surface soil, and replace with the top-dressing, pressing 

 it rather firm. It will be advisable to go over the plants a few 

 days previously, and water all that need it, for it will be a difficult 

 matter to ascertain which is dry, and which is wet for a iew days 

 afterwards. 



Auriculas require rather nice management in March, to give 

 them abundance of air without their being injured by the cold wiuds. 

 The frames must be covered every night when there is any sign of 

 frost, to prevent the flower trusses being injured. 



