294 



THE AURICITLA. 



BT JOHN "WALSH. 



Chapter TV. — Wintering the Plants in Feames. 



|AEIOUS people have various ways, and I find that there are 

 many little diiFerences of management amongst auricula 

 growers in respect of the treatment of the plants during 

 winter. First, however, let me speak of the frames. I 

 am familiar with all the best collections of auriculas in 

 the country, and I can safely say that common garden-frames are 

 employed in this cultivation almost universally, specially prepared 

 frames being most rarely met with. The far-famed Eichard Headly, 

 Esq., of Stapleford, keeps the whole of his plants in common frames, 

 on beds of coal-ashes, close beside a fence of quick. The celebrated 

 James Butcher, of Camberwell, uses common frames, fitted with 

 deal shelves, on which the pots stand all the winter : but in summer 

 the shelves are taken out and the pots are stood on the bed of 

 earth within the frame, and at the same time bars of wood are nailed 

 across back and front, on which the lights rest, to allow them to be 

 kept above the plants constantly to screen them from " blacks," 

 while at the same time there is an aperture about two inches deep, 

 to keep up a constant circulation of air. Mr. Charles Turner, of 

 Slough, the best cultivator in the country, and the largest trader of 

 stock, keeps his plants in frames made on purpose. They are of the 

 usual width and length, but stand high up from the ground, say 

 about three feet at back, and two feet in front, and they are filled 

 to within nine inches or so of the glass, with a solid bed of clean 

 coal-ashes. On this bed the pots stand very near the glass. To 

 afibrd a constant circulation of air a narrow panel of about four 

 inches in width is cut out of the front of the frame, and therefore if 

 the lights are drawn down an inch or two, there is a regular current 

 of air from front to back, while the plants are still sheltered from 

 rain and dust. 



It will be understood from these three examples that the pos- 

 sessor of a few choice auriculas need not put himself to any serious 

 trouble or outlay in providing for their preservation during winter. 

 Find as many frames as needful ; rig them up on beds of coal-ashes 

 one or two feet (or more) above the surface of the soil, to insure 

 dryness, let the situation be east, west, or north, but not south on 

 any account, and if possible secure shelter at some little distance on 

 the northern side, to screen the frames from cutting winds. Every 

 precaution known against vermin must be adopted, the place and its 

 surroundings must be clean, and in the way of preparation that is 

 all that is needed. 



At this time of year, auriculas are usually infested with green- 

 fly, and the treatment for which should consist of mechaiiical means 

 only. I strongly object to smoke, and to all nostrums, as injurious 

 to the plants. Suppose I find my plants now infested with fly, I 



