APRIL] FLOWER GARDEN. 359 



the auricula stage ; it will add to the variety and form a pleasing con- 

 trast. 



The tallest flowering auriculas should stand on the most distant 

 shelf, and the shortest in front; those stems which are weak and 

 bend, ought to be supported with small wires fixed in the earth be- 

 hind them, so as not to be easily discerned. If the root of the stage 

 is covered with glass, it will be an additional advantage to the plants. 



COMPOST FOR AURICULAS. 



The compost proper for auriculas, should consist of the following 

 ingredients in the annexed proportions, viz : - 



One-half rotten cow-dung, two years old. 



One-sixth fresh sound earth of an open texture. 



One-eighth earth of rotten leaves. 



One-twelfth coarse sea or river sand. 



One-twelfth moory earth. 



One twenty-fourth ashes of burned vegetables. 

 These ingredients should be well incorporated, and placed in an 

 open situation, perfectly exposed to the action of the sun and air; it 

 should be laid in a regular heap or mass from fifteen to eighteen 

 inches thick, and turned frequently : in this state it should remain a 

 year or six months, turning it once every two months, and keeping 

 it always free from weeds : before it is used it should be passed 

 through a coarse screen, to free it from stones, &c., and to incorpo- 

 rate it more effectually. 



NEW POTTING AURICULAS, AND INCREASING THEM BY SLIPS. 



The most advisable time to transplant, or to slip auriculas, or as 

 it is usually termed, to pot them, is immediately or very soon after 

 their bloom is over ; and this should be repeated annually, for it pre- 

 serves the health and constitution of the plants, by affording them a 

 fresh supply of nourishment, and affords an opportunity of curtailing 

 the fibres if grown too long, or if any are decayed and mouldy j or 

 of cutting off the lower part of the main root, if in a rotting or de- 

 cayed state, which is frequently the case. By this treatment, the 

 plants are brought into a state of action and fresh vegetation, which 

 will cause a continued circulation of the juices during the summer. 



The pots should be hard baked, and for blooming plants, ought to 

 be seven inches in diameter at top, four and a half at bottom, and 

 about seven deep; but smaller plants and offsets should have shal- 

 lower pots, and of a proportionate size, and very large plants must 

 have pots in proportion. These before being used, if new, should be 

 immersed in water for five or six hours or more. 



In potting or transplanting auriculas, the plant ought to be care- 

 fully turned out of the former pot, and the earth shaken from its 

 fibres, which should be trimmed if found long and numerous, and 

 also any part of the old main root that appears in a sickly or de- 

 cayed state must be cut clean out, whether on the lower part or side ; 

 and if near the leaves, a cement should be immediately applied, con- 



