106 ON THE OMGTN OF THE PINK. 



rapid drainage furnished by its Alpine situation must be provided by 

 broken pieces of tile or pottery thrown into the bottom of the pots, 

 and a good glass frame, covered with canvass and mats, must be 

 substituted for the deep covering of snow which envelops it upon its 

 native mountains, to protect it from cold winds and intense frosts. 

 This being done, the cultivator of the Auricula may consider his 

 plants perfectly safe in the most tempestuous weather. He will, 

 however, occasionally take a glance at them, even in the middle of a 

 deep storm, to see that all is right and free from wet, which will 

 generally be the case if his glass be perfect, his covering sufficiently 

 thick, and his foundation dry. The writer of this article places his 

 pots and frame upon a bed of dry ashes, a foot or so thick, which 

 effectually keeps out the snails and slugs, and prevents the pots from 

 imbibing too much moisture from the earth, which, at this season of 

 the year, is anything but beneficial. 



As soon as the stormy weather of winter disappears, and the 

 balmy zephyrs of spring again begin to fan the cheek, the plants 

 must be exposed to light and air, 



" From mom to noon, from noon to dewy eve," 



except in very cold windy weather, when the frames must be kept 

 closed. About the end of February or the beginning of March, the 

 Auricula begins to grow rapidly after a winter of torpor. The pots 

 must then have as much of the soil removed as can be conveniently 

 done without interfering with the top fibres, and be top-dressed with 

 fresh compost, such as is recommended above. Plentiful waterings, 

 twice or thrice a-week, may now be given with safety, and the plants 

 will begin to grow with rapidity and vigour. 



(To be continued.) 



ARTICLE IV. 



ON THE ORIGIN OF THE PINK. 



BY MR. THOMAS 1BBETT, 

 MOUNT PLEASANT, BULL'S FIKI.D, WOOLWICH. 



If a florist feels a greater degree of pleasure at times more than 

 others, it is when he beholds some new and first rate flower, which 

 naturally leads him to an inquiry as to its name, by whom it was 



