341 



AUGUST. 



CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS FOR THE FLOWER 

 GARDEN, SHRUBBERY, AND GREENHOUSE. 



Anriunh. — If any remain to be 

 turned out, either from seed-beds 

 or from pots, lose no time in put- 

 ting them in the borders. If any 

 of those in tlie ground have been 

 sown too thick, or liave not been 

 thinned enough, remove enough to 

 give room, and if they are wanted 

 transplant those you remove. 



Auriculas. — Examine all the 

 plants by turning the balls out of 

 the pots to see if the roots are 

 healthy. If they have become 

 matted round the pot strike all 

 til 6 earth out of the roots, pare 

 away any little cankery place, and, 

 if the bulky part of the root has 

 become long, cut it back to about 

 two inches : this will give room 

 for the same plant to go back to 

 its own pot, or a closer one of the 

 same size, or even a smaller one. 

 The removal of a part of the main 

 stem, as it were, of the root, re 

 moves also a great quantity of the 

 fibre that matted together in the 

 pot. Then fill the pot one-fourth 

 ■with crocks, and the rest with 

 compost ; but the quantity put in 

 before the plant is placed in it 

 must be just enough to rest the 

 stump of the root on, and the 

 fibre must be spread round so as 

 to reach the edge ; then complete 

 the filling, tucking it down with 

 the fingers, but keeping the plant 



with its collar, which is where the 

 bottom sotind leaf comes from the 

 stem, exactly level with the top 

 edge of the pot; thump the pot 

 two or three times on the potting 

 table or bench while you al-e fill- 

 ing the compost in, to settle it 

 down a little, and fill within a 

 quarter of an inch of the top 

 edge. It is a common practice to 

 pot all the stock of Auriculas, 

 whether they really want it or not ; 

 but if the roots are healthy, and 

 do not mat round the sides, bitt 

 merely show here and there, they 

 do not want it, and are none the 

 better for being disturbed. Of 

 the proper soil for Auriculas we 

 have a Imndred different receipts 

 by difterent writers. Those who 

 attend to Auriculas only, and 

 want to excel everybody, can afford 

 to try experiments, and use very 

 exciting soil ; but the private 

 grower should adhere to that which 

 will keep them in good health 

 without so much watchfulness. 

 The loam from rotted turves two- 

 thirds, and cowdung rotted into 

 mould one-third, witli silver sand 

 to lighten it if it be too stiff, can- 

 not go wrong, and nothing better 

 can be used by private growers 

 who want healthy plants and good 

 colour. The growers for sale want 

 rapid growth and huge trusses ; 



