SS8 THE PLEASURE, OR [APRIL, 



wanted ; and let such pots as stand in need of that article be imme- 

 diately supplied with it. In doing this, suffer no water to fall on 

 the flowers, for that would wash off the afore-mentioned farinaceous 

 bloom, and greatly deface their beauty. 



The waterings should be modertae, and frequent ; for these 

 plants being rather of a succulent nature, cannot bear too much, 

 without material injury. 



Keep the surface of the pots perfectly neat, free from weeds and 

 every sort of litter; suffer no decayed leaves to remain on the 

 plants, but let such, as soon as they appear, be taken of. 



By thus placing your auricula pots on a covered stage, it not on- 

 ly preserves the flowers much longer in beauty, but you also, more 

 readily view them, and they show themselves to much greater ad- 

 vantage than when placed on the ground. 



The shelves and back of the stage, should be painted black, or of 

 some dark colour, by way of contrast to the white eyes, &c. of the 

 flowers : and if a large looking-glass be placed at each end of the 

 stage,the effect produced will be very pleasing, by apparently length- 

 ening the stage each way, as far as the eye can reach. * 



A row of fine Polyanthus's in pots, may likewise be introduced on 

 the auricula stage, it will add to the variety and form a pleasing 

 contrast. 



The tallest flowering auricula's, 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 behind 

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

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

 plants. 



A Description of the Properties of a fine Variegated AURICULA^ 



The stem should be strong, erect, and elastic, and of a proper 

 height, that the bunch or truss of flowers, may be above the foliage 

 of the plant. 



The peduncles or foot-stalks, should also be strong and elastic, 

 and of a proportional length to the size and quantity of the pips, 

 which should not be less than seven in number, that the bunch 

 may be rather round, close, and compact. 



The component parts of the pip, are the tube, with its stamens 

 and anthers ; the eye, and the exterior circle containing the ground 

 colour, with its edge or margin : these three should be all well pro- 

 portioned, which will be the case, if the diameter of the tube be one 

 part, the eye three, and the whole pip or flower, six, or nearly so. 



AIL the admirers of this charming flower agree, that the pips 

 ought to be round ; but this seldom happens ; and we must be con- 

 tent if they are so nearly round, as not to be what is called starry. 



The anthers or summits of the stamins, ought to be large, bold, 

 and fill the tubs well, and the tube should terminate rather above 

 the eye ; the eye should be very white, smooth, and round, without 

 any cracks, uncl distinct from the ground or self-colour* 



