EXTRACTS. 



161 



This simple mixture, which is easily prepared, ami within every one's reach, 

 I can recommend, as a suitable :.nd snfTicienlly iVrtile conipoit, always to be 

 depended on for keeping the plants healthy, and in a hriviiig state. 



For strong: plants, intended for exhibition, I would add to the same com- 

 post, as a stimulant, a barrowful of well decayed night soil, with the appli- 

 cation of liiiuid manure, once or twice, before you top dress in February ; 

 and twice more in March, not ofteuer. A peck of sheep dung, with the same 

 quantity of horse droppings, put into a large tub of water, stirred up frc- 

 (|neiitly, and left to fermeut a week or two before it is used, may be applied 

 with good ertect and perfect safety. 



A portion of light sandy peat earth, generally to be met with on the tops 

 of barren heaths, or moors, though not easily obtained everywhere, may be 

 added, as a safe and useful ingredient; particularly for plants kept in losv 

 and damp situations, where light potting, and light compost, are found to 

 answer best. 



By way of change, we make use of the following composition : — two bar- 

 rows of Wanstead loam, with the turfy part decayed; one ditto of leaf mould; 

 one ditto of cow-dung; one ditto oi old frame or horse dung ; a half ditto of 

 old night soil ; a half ditto of sheep-dung; and two pecks of 'I'hanies sand ; 

 with a top-dressing of one quarter loam and three quarters sheep and cow 

 ilitn-s, rotted, and mixed together in one. heap ; and manure-water as before, 

 with the intent, as florists express it, to throw in colour, and to encourage the 

 growth of the umbel or truss, then shooting up to flower. 



WINTER. 



Tn the three Winter months, from the 2lst of November to the 2lst of 

 February, Auriculas do not require much of our care, beyond watering them 

 occasionally; plucking off the dead leaves, and covering them with mats, or 

 a little coarse hay litter during severe frost; and this covering ought more 

 particularly to be given them iu February, because their trusses then begin to 

 appear, which, if frozen hard, will shew the ill eilects of it in the bloom. They 

 want very little water iu the Winter; and seem to get through it best, when 

 kept rather dry than otherwise, in December and January. Early in Febru- 

 ary, if the weather should then happen to be mild and open, yon may give 

 them a day's gentle rain, or, at least, rain suflicieut to reach their roots, at 

 the bottom of the pots; and this may be repeated, when necessary, through 

 the month. You may now give them the manured water twice, and do the 

 same again in March, allowing a week between each watering. About the 

 middle of the month, or as soon after as the weather permits, top-dress with 

 some of your best and richest compost; taking care, in the first place, to 

 remove as much of the earth as you can from the top of the pots, without 

 injury to the roots. The liquid manure and the top dressing will add fresh 

 life and vigour to the plants, and accelerate their growth. They now require 

 all the air you can give them. 



If any plants require shifting into larger pots, this is the proper time for 

 doing it. 



MARCH. 



To insure a good bloom, much depends upon the care you take of them in 

 March. Let them receive no check whatever, either from want of covering 

 or want of water. Let the lights be off all day, if the weather is in any degree 

 favourable; and let the plants receive all the soft and gentle rains that full, 

 until the pi|)S open; protect them, howm'er, from cold sleet and snow, and 

 cold cutting winds. By the middle of March, the flower-stalks will have shot 

 up, and the flower-buds will begin to grow ; and as they are the tenderest 

 part, and most liable to injury from frost, which often jirevails by night, more 

 or less, at this season of the year, it is advisable, nay more, it is highly neces- 

 sary, to give them additional covering, to prevent their being chilled and 

 nipped by it; neither expose them too liastily to thesun, if it should shinu, 

 before the fro»t shall have disa))peared ; and let the same prtfcanlion be used 

 iu April. 



To prt-vent the ulalkii being drawn up and weakened, *a llmt they oanuot 



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