78 A DIALOGUE ON THE CULTIVATION OF THE AURICULA. 



which the purchaser has to wait a year or two, perhaps more, hefore 

 they will bloom to perfection. Now I recommend to all persons who 

 wish to raise a healthy stock of plants to bloom well the following 

 spring, to go to some eminent florist famous in the growth of Auri- 

 culas, such as Mr. James Dixon, of Acre Lane, Brixton, from such 

 a person you may procure better plants and quite as reasonable. 



L. I have seen Mr. Dixon's stock, which were fine and healthy, 

 but his plants were not so large as yours. 



Inf. Because he is continually selling off his stock and reserving 

 young plants, whereas some of mine are seven or eight years old; a 

 strong proof that the compost, although rich, is not too forcing, and 

 that the situation agrees with them. I think I may venture to affirm, 

 without any boasting, that I never yet saw any Auriculas so fine and 

 healthy as my own. I will commence, my method of treatment from 

 the first week in October, which is the usual time to place the plants 

 in their winter quarters ; however, instead of placing them in the 

 frame, they may be put in a shed facing the south, either thatched 

 or tiled, with the ends well protected from cold, driving rain, or wind, 

 and here they may remain till the end of November. They will not 

 require a mat in the front at night, since it matters not how cold the 

 weather is at this season provided the plants are kept dry. 



When they are first placed in the shed or frame in October, if the 

 weather is warm, and using the compost I shall hereafter describe to 

 you, they will require a little water about twice in nine days. It will 

 frequently happen that the soil in some of the pots will retain (the 

 moisture longer than its neighbour, which you may observe by the 

 soil looking darker; such of course must not be watered so frequently, 

 or it is ten to one it will be attacked by the rot, a disease which is 

 engendered by over watering and stagnant air, and when once a 

 plant is infected by this disease, it will be found a difficult matter to 

 cure it. I have done so by taking out the decayed part, and filling 

 up the orifice -with tallow, keeping the plant reasonably dry till it is 

 recovered, which, to any one accustomed to observe Auriculas may 

 soon be known by the appearance of the leaves. In the early part of 

 November, if the weather be fine, the treatment may be similar to the 

 last month, and as it advances they will require less water, the days 

 being colder, often damp, and the nights longer. At the beginning 

 of December, place the plants in the frame, which should be thus 



