126 THE AURICULA. 



mould adhering to them to the bigness of a mode- 

 rate-sized ball, but never shook the mould com- 

 pletely from the roots, if they were sound and going 

 on well, until the third year ; he then would wash 

 the roots in water, examine them closely, shorten 

 the tap or main root, and cut away any decayed 

 or unsound parts ; but if any plant appeared 

 sickly at any time, he always served it in the same 

 manner. 



He was particularly careful in making the holes 

 at the bottom of the pots larger, and putting in 

 three or four pieces of broken tile to drain the water 

 off, and prevent it from becoming stagnant at the 

 bottom of the pots : this, though apparently a trifling 

 circumstance, ought always to be well attended to. 



The proportions he used, if I remember rightly, 

 (I speak only from memory,) were 



-| Loam, 



Sheep-dung and hay litter, 

 - Coarse sand. 



This sheep manure may be easily obtained from any 

 of the farmers about Finchley, or any other quarter, 



