154 FLOWER GARDEN- AURICULAS. [MARCH. 



AURICULAS. 



These beautiful and highly interesting plants are, to 

 a great degree, neglected in our collections. It cannot 

 be from want of beauty or fragrance that they have 

 not attracted our attention, for they are exquisite in 

 both. We are rather inclined to think that those who 

 have them do not give them the treatment they require 

 yearly to perfect their bloom. They should now have 

 the surface earth taken off about half an inch down, 

 and fresh soil added, which will cause them to put out 

 fresh fibres about the upper part of the roots, and 

 greatly increase their growth. The frame in which 

 they are placed should now face the east, as the sun 

 will be too strong for them ; and about the end of the 

 month turn it to the north. The glass of the frame 

 may be white-washed, which will partially shade 

 them from the sun, that being their delight. Give 

 them water sparingly until they begin to grow, and 

 never water them over the foliage previous to flower- 

 ing, as water injures that fine mealy-like substance 

 found on many of the sorts, and which so greatly 

 improves their beauty. Defend them, therefore, 

 from rain and high winds. To have them flower 

 strongly, only one flower stem should be allowed to 

 grow. The first one that shows is generally the best. 

 At all events leave the strongest, and cut off* all the 

 others, or only nip off the flower pips, which answers 

 the same end. Never keep the sash off during night, 

 lest it should rain before morning. 



