136 THE AURICULA. 



their receiving any sudden check or injury from 

 frost ; and I hesitate not to say, that I have adopted 

 the use of a thick blanket, which I put next to the 

 glass, with a couple of stout -mats over it, about the 

 20th of March, and continue it for three weeks or a 

 month, according as the weather may be; for it is 

 certain, that whatever petals are touched by frost 

 never become level nor show their right colours. 



APRIL. 



IN this month the blossoms begin to expand and 

 display their rich and brilliant colours, and it is 

 then necessary to keep the lights over them night 

 and day, to preserve their beauty unimpaired, and 

 to admit air into the frame behind. The blossoms 

 must not only be protected from the rains, but also 

 from the mid-day sun, (which often begins about 

 this time to dart his fierce rays,) by a net or old 

 thin mat thrown over them. Notwithstanding this, 

 you must still shut them up close at night, and even 



