339 



their l)uciding for tlowcr, lesl ihc sharp inorniii<>;s bhght them, and 

 prevent their blowing. When the llower-slenis begin to advanee 

 and the blossom buds grow turgid, tliey must be protected from 

 hasty rains, which would wash off their while meally farina, and 

 greatly deface the beauty of their Howers, keeping them as much 

 uncovered as possible, otherwise their stems will be drawn up too 

 weak to suj)porl their llowi rs, (which is often the case when tl:eir 

 pots are placed near walls) giving liieni gentle waterings to strengthen 

 them, but none of the water should be let fall into the centie of the 

 plant, or auiong the leaves. 



When the llowers begin to open, their pots should be removed 

 upon a stage (built with rows of shelves, one above another, and 

 covered on the lop, to preserve them from wet: this should be open 

 to the morning sun, but shellered from the heat of the sun in ihc 

 mitidlc of the day): in this position they will app(>ar to much 

 greater advantage than when they stand upon the ground; i'or, their 

 flowers being low, their beaut}' is hid; whereas, when they are 

 advanced upon shelves, they are fully seen. In this situation they 

 may remain until the beauty of their llowers is past, when they must 

 be set abroad to receive ihe rains, and have open iVee air, in ijrder to 

 obtain seeds, which will fail if they are kepi loo long under shelter. 

 When the seed is ripe it should l)e gathered \\ hen it is j)erfectly dry, 

 and exposed to the sun in a window uj)on pa|)ers, lo prevent its 

 growing mouldy, lelling it remain in the j)o(ls till the season for 

 sowing. 



It is observed by the editor c»f Miller's Dictionary, that " those 

 who are very nice in raising Auriculas, direct the compost lobe 

 made of one half rotten cow-dung two years old; one sixth fresh 

 sound earlh of an open texture; one eighth earth of rotten leaves: 

 one twelflh coarse sea or river sand; one twiMity- fourth soft decayed 

 willow wood; one twenty-fourth peaty or moory earth; one twenty- 

 fourth ashes of burnt vegelables, to be spread u|)on the surface of 

 llie other ingredients. 'I'his compost is lo be cxj)osed to the sun 

 and air, tinned over once or iwice, and jiassed as often through a 

 coarse screen or sieve; tlien be laid in a icgular iieap liom fifteeen 



