THE AURICULA. 135 



hour or so, and this two or three times a week ; and 

 observe the same rule throughout March. 



Any time in February when the weather permits,, 

 begin to top-dress your plants with some of your 

 richest and strongest compost, as recommended 

 before, removing first the mould from the top, with- 

 out disturbing or injuring the fibres. 



At the beginning of March, you may shift such 

 of the plants as require it into larger pots to bloom ; 

 and as they begin to shoot up for bloom, reduce all 

 the flowering stems to one, draw the lights off the 

 greater part of the day, and give them all the air 

 possible, to prevent the stems being drawn up weak, 

 and let them receive all the gentle rains that fall 

 from the middle to the end of this month, to en- 

 courage and promote their growth ; but shut them 

 close at nights, to prevent the opening blossoms 

 being nipped by the frost, which will still frequently 

 recur at this season. 



It must be admitted that florists are indebted to 

 Mr. Emmerton for the suggestion of extra covering 

 by night, when the pips begin to open, to prevent 



