102 OX AURICULA. 



Very liable to run and become foul, by which is understood that 

 either the ground-colour, edging, or eye, predominates, which en- 

 tirely destroys the appearance of the flower: those grown in a more 

 moderate soil generally produce a much finer and more regular 

 flower, and besidej will have less tendency to impair the health 

 and strength of the plant. Those persons who have grown Auriculas 

 will not perhaps have remarked that green and grey-edged flowers 

 are seldom so fine and true to their character when produced from 

 a stem rising from the centre of the plant, as those produced from 

 one rising from the side of it, arid that white edges are the reverse: 

 most perfect flowers generally being produced from a stem rising 

 from the centre. Self-coloured flowers join with green and grey 

 edge in this peculiarity. Shaded alpine are a class which seem to 

 be little cultivated here, therefore I have not been able to add 

 them to the list. There are a few plants here mentioned which as 

 yet have but a limited circulation ; they were raised in this neigh- 

 bourhood by Mr. Smith, at Ellengowan, and Mr. McDonald, at 

 Dunninald, both of whom have been very successful in raising fine 

 varieties ; several of these when well grown, have proved to be of 

 very superior order, and, have obtained prizes at different shows 

 fn this quarter, competing against many of the finest flowers 

 l n cultivation. 



Having for my own amusement grown Auriculas for several years 

 with great success, of which my collection at present amount to 

 two hundred and fifty strong healthy plants, comprising one hun- 

 dred and forty of the finest varieties ; it was my intention to have 

 added my mode of cultivating and managing this favorite flower ; 

 but this appears to me unnecessary from the excellent articles 

 which have appeared in several of the preceding numbers of the 

 Cabinet, I shall therefore merely state that the compost I make 

 use of consists of six parts of manure, at least three years old„ 

 gathered from pasture fields, and one part of white sand, and con- 

 clude by briefly mentioning the following principal points to be 

 attended to in order to grow Auriculas in perfection. 



Adhere to as simple and rich a soil as possible, avoiding all ob* 

 noxious and stimulating manures. Pay attention to good drainage 

 at the bottom of each pot. Avoid too often reducing the fibrous 

 roots of the plant, and examine occasionally, perhaps every three 

 years the lower end of the main root, a part of which will require 

 to be taken off. Do not delay making the examination, when you 

 observe the leaves of a plant becoming spotted of a yellowish hue. 



