MJE C 



80 A DIALOGU^ON THE CULTIVATION OF THE AURICULA. 



tion, since the evening is very mild and fine, we will adjourn to yonder 

 plant shed, and I will send for a bottle of Mrs. Primrose's cham- 

 pagne. 



L. With all my heart ; and so you have a glass roof here too, and 

 iron trellis 'and door, and Saul's iron chairs also. Do you use this 

 for your Auriculas ? 



Inf. Sometimes, when they are in full bloom or declining, but 

 chiefly for wintering my Carnations. 



L. I suppose in very severe weather you mat it round ? 

 Inf. No ; you see the ivy growing up the trellis on the north and 

 east sides, that is quite sufficient. Here comes the Champagne, and 

 how do you like it ? 



L. Excellent, good : and now you will excuse me for being so 

 anxious to hear more about the Auriculas. 



Inf. Well, then, in the month of December mind to give them all 

 the free circulation of air you possibly can, minding at the same time 

 not to let them be exposed to any heavy rain, in fact without the 

 weather is very mild they cannot be kept too dry, and be particular 

 to have the lights drawn over them every night by sunset, and oil' 

 according to the weather in the morning. It matters not how much 

 wind they are exposed to,* or frost, provided they are dry, which 

 at this season is quite requisite, more particularly in low, damp situa- 

 tions. This you see is very high, for which reason, when the weather 

 is mild, I water my plants slightly once in about nine days throughout 

 the winter, but in such an one as the present (1841) they had not 

 any from December till those two or three beautifully fine days at the 

 end of January, when, after so long a frost, I concluded we were 

 going to have some mild weather ; and yet on the first of February 

 the frost set in again with an easterly wind more severe than ever, 

 and continued for nine days ; and had I not applied water with great 

 care, and covered the frames well over at night, the plants in all pro- 

 bability would have suffered, but by keeping the frost out : even Lee's 

 Colonel Taylor, which I find requires to be kept at this season as dry 

 as any, was not injured by it; yet could I have formed an idea of 

 more frost so soon, I should not have given them a drop. However 

 mild the winter may be, in a low, damp situation I should not give 

 them any during the months of December and January. But, I before 

 remarked, we stand high : look at that field of mine, up at the wood; 



