254 THE GARDENER. [June 



I commenced my experiences with the Auricula about seven years 

 since, by the purchase of a few plants of some common Alpines, for the 

 decoration of my window. The attendance and care these required, and 

 the beauty of their flowers, first formed in me a taste for them not hitherto 

 felt ; and the succeeding year a few other plants were obtained, and my 

 stock increased. Next, I began to raise seedlings, and for this purpose 

 got from a London house some packets of seed; but this grew so badly 

 that I resolved to save seed for myself from the plants I possessed ; and 

 having done so, it was sown, and the produce amounted to about three 

 dozen plants. This was something to call forth my capabilities to the 

 utmost, as to save this batch of plants, grow them on, and flower them, 

 was indeed an object worthy of my ambition, whilst the enjoyment to 

 be derived from the constant watching of my slowly-opening seedling 

 flowers was indeed great in the anticipation of it. But I speedily found 

 that the gradual increase of my stock rendered necessary some more 

 useful means of housing them than I had hitherto possessed. For 

 this purpose I procured a neat two-light frame, and had fitted to it a 

 trellis bottom of wood ; this was placed upon bricks under an east 

 wall, and the frame dropped carefully over it upon other bricks, so that 

 there was a constant circulation of air beneath and around the pots. 

 This frame I nearly filled with my stock that winter, as, in addition 

 to my seedlings and old plants, I had propagated from the latter a 

 certain number. I now began also to perceive that it was necessary 

 to exercise considerable caution in the use of the water-pot, and pre- 

 ferred to let my plants remain comparatively dry during the winter, 

 rather than endanger them by excessive moisture. Of course, as the 

 spring advanced, I became more emboldened, and now and then, w T hen 

 quiet rains prevailed, pulled the lights off altogether, as I believe that 

 a good soaking so administered is beneficial to the plants. As the 

 blooming period approached, and with it much warm sunshine, I became 

 conscious that a somewhat cooler situation than the frame afforded 

 was requisite, and also that a stage upon which to arrange my plants 

 to better advantage, and in a less crowded manner, was a desirable 

 object to possess. 



Fortunately a narrow border under my east wall suggested itself as 

 the very spot ; and having plenty of loose bricks about, I so arranged 

 these as to make them support a rising series of six lengths of open 

 shelves, made of strips of wood H inch square, and about 15 feet in 

 length, using two strips for each shelf. Over this was constructed a 

 framework of wood, consisting of stout uprights, those behind being 

 4 feet in height from the ground, and those in front 2 J feet. The 

 distance of these supports apart lengthwise to the border was about 

 3 feet 9 inches, and across the border 5 feet. Upon each pair of these, 



