AURICULA. 49 



day's sun at this time will destroy them ; but, if the wea- 

 ther be mild, fresh air may be admitted to them. About 

 the end of April they should be gradually accustomed to 

 the open air ; but care must be taken not to do this too 

 abruptly, and to place them out on a mild day, 



' ' When dews, heaven's secret milk, in unseen showers, 

 First feed the early childhood of the year." 



DAVENANT. 



Special care must be taken to screen them from easterly 

 winds. Earth, properly prepared for Auriculas, may be 

 obtained from a nursery; and this is considered of some 

 importance. What further directions are necessary will 

 equally apply to those flowers raised at home, and to such 

 as are only adopted children. 



Preserve the plants from too much wet in winter, but 

 let them have as much air as possible. To screen them 

 from rain, it is best to keep them under cover. In Fe- 

 bruary, when the weather is mild, take out of the pots as 

 much of the earth as you can without disturbing the roots, 

 and fill them up with fresh earth, which will greatly 

 strengthen the plants: also take off such leaves as are 

 decayed. 



Auriculas should, in dry weather, be very gently wa- 

 tered three times in a week, carefully observing that no 

 water fall upon the flowers ; which, by washing off their 

 farina, would greatly deface their beauty, and hasten their 

 decay. 



The best situation for Auriculas, when in bloom, is 

 where the air may surround them, but roofed over head 

 at such a distance as not to oppress the plants. Placed 

 in an eastern balcony, shaded by a viranda, and by a few 

 shrubs on the southern side, they will be well lodged. 

 When the flowers have lost their beauty, they must be 

 entirely exposed, to perfect their seeds, which will ripen 



E 



