THE CULTURE OF THE AURICULA. 



31 



quisite. If the plants are intended exclu- 

 sively for fine blooms, they ought to be 

 potted rather deeply, quite up to the neck 

 of the foliage. Those intended for propa- 

 gation should have a larger portion of the 

 stems exposed, to induce them to throw 

 out side shoots after potting. The plants 

 should be placed in a northern aspect, 

 where they may remain until taken into 

 their winter quarters. 



Wintering the Plants. — The Auricula 

 is not at all particular about where it is 

 put in winter, providing you keep it from 

 damp, and from every severe frost. A 

 shelf in a green-house, verandah, window, 

 or even in a cellar, will do. I have known 

 ladies keep a considerable number of Au- 

 riculas in a common room. They will 

 bear a good many degrees of frost, if kept 

 dry ; but damp is their deadly enemy. A 

 cold pit is the very place for them. Put 

 them on shelves close to the glass, or not 

 more than six inches from it ; and let them 

 have abundance of free air every fine day. 

 Pick off all damp and decayed leaves from 

 the plants as they appear. Cover the 

 lights with mats, litter, or straw, to protect 

 them from severe frost ; but uncover them 

 every favorable opportunity to admit light 

 and air. 



About the beginning of February, a mild 

 day should be selected for top-dressing and 

 examining the roots. Turn out every one, 

 and see that the drainage is perfect ; re- 

 move about an inch from the surface, and 

 replace it in the same pot. Cut away 

 every offset that appears likely to draw off 

 any nourishment from the main plant. 

 Fill around with the prepared compost, so 

 that the lower leaves will rest upon the 

 soil. They must now get plenty of air 

 and light, and be regularly supplied with 

 water ; but guard against saturation, as 

 the flower stems appear. If you wish fine 



blooms, let only one stem remain on each 

 plant, as they advance towards blooming. 

 They should be fully exposed to the air, 

 but have a screen put over them, to pro- 

 tect them from the dashing rains and mid- 

 day sun ; for the farinaceous powder upon 

 the petals, which now adds so much to 

 their beauty, is easily washed off. When 

 they have done blooming, submit them to 

 the same routine of culture which I have 

 before recommended. 



The Auricula is very subject to attacks 

 of the slug and the weevil, and sometimes 

 of the green fly. The last is easily de- 

 stroyed by fumigating with tobacco ; and 

 the two former by continual picking when 

 they appear. They are also liable to ul- 

 ceration and canker in the root, especially 

 when kept too wet. When any plant pre- 

 sents a yellow, sickly appearance, take it 

 out and examine its root, and you will 

 soon discover the cause of its unhealthiness. 



Properties of a good Auricula. — An 

 Auricula, to be of the first rank in the es- 

 timation of the florist, should possess the 

 following characteristics of excellence : 



The plant itself should be well grown ; 

 the leaves of a dark green colour, protruding 

 over the edge of the pot. They ought to 

 dip gradually towards the point of the 

 leaf, but not recurved. 



The stem should be strong, erect, and 

 elastic, of sufficient height to carry the 

 truss above the foliage. Every flower stem 

 should be of a length proportioned to the 

 size and quantity of the pips. It must be 

 strong enough to bear the head without 

 any assistance, sticks, &c, as they dis- 

 figure the plants greatly, as well as lace- 

 rate the roots. 



The footstalk of the pips should also be 

 strong and elastic, and long enough to al- 

 low the flowers to expand without over- 

 laying each other. 



