ON THE AURICULA. 



149 



ARTICLE II. 

 ON FLORIST FLOWERS-THE AURICULA. 



BY FLORA. 



In my last paper, having promised you the routine of my month- 

 ly culture of the Auricula, I therefore, to redeem my pledge, 

 send this, with a sketch of my Auricula-house or frame, the dot- 

 ted lines shewing where |he laths on which the sliding shelves 

 lay. 



I shall hegin my Auricula-year with August, that being the 

 month in which the general potting takes place for spring bloom. 



Early in the month, or the last week in July, prepare the soil 

 as before stated, prepare also some thin sod or sward, and having 

 taken care that it is half dry, take an empty pot, and cover the hole 

 in the bottom with a piece of shell or potsherd, lay apiece of 

 this half dry sod upon it, and then your prepared soil, till the pot 

 is about half full, take the old plant and shake the soil from it, 

 taking off all rooted offsets which must be put either singly into 

 small pots or four plants into a larger pot, pull off all the dead 

 or yellow leaves, and examine the root to see if any part be decay- 

 ed, if so, remove all the decayed or brown roots, for the plant 

 will never thrive when the root is diseased. If you cut or break 

 it, let it be till the wound is healed, or pot in dry soil, and do not 

 water for a day or two ; spread the roots of the plant all around 

 the soil, and fill up to the top level with the edge, do not press 

 it down with your fingers, but give it a slight knock or two on 

 the bench, which will settle it about half an inch and leave room 

 lor holding water. Look to the neck of the plant all round, that 

 it is a proper depth in the boil, then water gently about the edge 



