AURICULA. 



249 



That dry air is necessary to the auricula is obvious 

 from its natural habitat being lofty mountains ; from 

 experience in its cultivation, and particularly from that 

 curious peculiarity of constitution by which it covers 

 itself with dust. This is certainly a defence against 

 rain ; and is a silent hint to the manager to be guarded 

 against keeping his plants too moist, more especially 

 when they are in a dormant state. 



The auricula is propagated by seed to procure new 

 varieties, and by slips, to multiply and continue old 

 favourite sorts. In raising them from seed, the most 

 important part of the business is saving seed from the 

 best kinds. The usual precaution is moving the 

 breeders away from among inferior kinds, and placing 

 them where they may be in close contact with superior 

 sorts, in order that they may receive sexual impres- 

 sions either by accident or by the intentional manipu- 

 lation of the manager. The breeders are assisted in 

 every practicable way to ripen the seed. Decayed or 

 supernumerary florets (or pips, as they are technically 

 called) should be cut off, leaving only the more pro- 

 mising capsules to mature their seed. When these be- 

 come dry and brown, they should be gathered and 

 kept in a cold and moderately damp, rather than in 

 an over-dry place, till the month of January, when 

 the seeds, freed from the capsules, should be sown. 



Boxes, large sized pots, or seedling pans, are used 

 for seed-beds. These should be carefully drained by 

 a layer of gravel or cinders in the bottom, filled with 

 proper compost, shaken and pressed smoothly down 

 full half an inch below the rim, leaving the middle 

 rather higher than round the sides. On the surface the 

 seeds are dropped regularly, and covered with finely 

 sifted compost to the thickness of a crown-piece. 

 Water is given immediately, but so lightly that the 

 surface or seeds be not disturbed. The seed pans 

 are next placed within a frame or hand-glass, where 

 they will be safe from the mid-day sun, from earth- 

 worms and insects. Air should be given occasionally 

 to prevent mouldiness, and gentle watering if neces- 

 sary. Some florists raise their seedlings on a mild 

 hot-bed. This not only expedites the germination 

 and growth of the seedlings, but brings up many of 

 the weaker seeds, which would not rise at all without 

 such excitement. 



As soon as the plants are fit to handle, they are thinly 

 pricked out into larger sized pots, in which they are 

 i irsed till the month of August, when they are again 

 transplanted singly into sixty sized pots, or three to- 

 gether at equal distances round the outside of forty- 

 eights. Here they remain to flower ; and then 

 comes the most interesting period of their culture. 

 The sower may have raised many that are worthless ; 

 and also many that arc only third and fourth rates ; 

 perhaps a few second rates ; but if he gains only one 

 first rate he feels all his labour well bestowed ! 



Successful management of the auricula depends 

 very much on the suitableness of the soil or compost 

 prepared for it. The different substances employed 

 .ire maiden, or fresh loam ; the droppings of sheep, 

 horses, or oxen ; desiccated or very old night soil ; 

 t'inig of pigeons, poultry, and geese; blood from 

 -laughter-houses; sugar-bakers' scum; bone dust; 

 leaf mould ; and sea or river sand. Portions of all 

 these substances have been used, but without advan- 

 tage ; many eminent florists using only one-third 

 loam, and two-thirds sheep-house dung, and a little 

 sand, all well incorporated together. 



Choice auriculas are kept in thirty-two sized pots 



and should be shifted about the first of August in 

 very year. Some individual plants may need shift- 

 ing sooner, especially those which fequire to be di- 

 vested of their slips. The slips are taken off at shift- 

 ing, and potted by themselves ; and then also the 

 condition of each plant should be considered and 

 treated accordingly. Such as have been previously 

 shifted, and have improved in growth during summer; 

 will only require larger pots, with an addition of fresh 

 compost. Such as look sickly, should receive a more 

 severe examination, by shaking off the soil entirely from 

 the root, to see whether canker has seized the tuber : 

 and if so, the knife must be applied to cut away all 

 decayed parts before repotting. In potting the lower 

 leaves should be about half an inch above the surface, 

 and this nearly one iach below the edge of the pot. 

 This depth is necessary, in order to allow as large a 

 top-dressing as possible in the month of February. 



After being thus shifted and watered, the collection 

 must be placed where there is full air and light, but 

 shaded from ardent or long-continued sunshine, and 

 also from heavy rains. The morning and evening 

 sun is salutary, but not that of the middle of the day. 

 It has already been observed that the stage auricula 

 is wholly an artificial being ; so much so, that it cannot 

 bear extreme changes. An equable degree of moisture 

 is necessary for the roots, and a regular degree of dry 

 air is likewise necessary to the leaves. For these pur- 

 poses, each plant, when it arrives at a proper age, 

 must not only have its own pot, but the collection 

 must have a suitable platform or shelved stage fitted 

 for its reception, raised high enough from the damp 

 of the ground, and with a covering to exclude the sun 

 and rain whenever necessary. 



To combine with convenience all the advantages of 

 shade and shelter required by auriculas, a double 

 stage protected by a double roof is certainly best. 

 On one side of the roof may be glazed lights orpannels, 

 and the other boarded shutters of the same dimen- 

 sions, so that they may take each other's places as the 

 season or state of the plants require. It would be 

 superfluous to give directions for such an erection ; 

 so as the principle of its use connected with conveni- 

 ence is adhered to, local circumstances and the views 

 of the proprietor will direct all the particulars of place, 

 form, and dimension. We may notice, however, a 

 very simple contrivance, constructed for keeping 

 auriculas both in summer and winter. It is built in 

 the form of an alcove, placed against a north or south 

 wall, according to the season. Four substantial corner 

 posts are fixed in the ground ; those behind are united 

 by a plate five feet from the ground ; the front posts 

 have also a plate six feet high ; the ends and back are 

 boarded. The roof is covered with pannels, sloping 

 from the front and attached to the back plate by 

 hinges, to admit of their being thrown off. The width 

 of this frame need not be more than about four feet. 

 This will give room for a stage of four shelves, rising 

 one above the other, on which to place the pots. By 

 throwing back the roof pannels a warm shower may 

 be admitted. The front being open allows the en- 

 trance of the mildest air and strongest light in winter, 

 and a curtain of mats defends from frost, or from the 

 sun's heat in summer. If such a frame as this, in- 

 tended fora small collection, were formed on truck- 

 wheels, so that it might be turned to any aspect, it 

 would serve as well for a summer as a winter reposi- 

 sitory, and answer all the purposes of a double roofed 

 frame. 



