144 THE AURICULA. 



mat or gardener's blue apron. This warm confine- 

 ment under the glass has the effect of gradually 

 producing a greater expansion of the petal, and of 

 making them pliable, so *hat with a little care and 

 nicety, and a thin piece of smooth wood, you will 

 be enabled to lock the edges of the pips under one 

 another and bring them level. 



A piece of smooth ivory with a hole in it, nearly 

 the size of the pip, if pressed lightly upon the pip, 

 will also help to bring it level. 



Plants that are in a forward state of bloom are 

 usually set under large hand-glasses upon bricks 

 during the day ; and if they are not replaced in the 

 frames during the night, the bricks must be taken 

 away arid a thick mat thrown over them. Great 

 benefit also arises from very lightly watering the 

 leaves of the Auricula when in flower, through a 

 very fine engine-turned brass rose, about the size of 

 half-a-crown, with a crane neck to prevent any water 

 falling on the blossom ; this done about four o'clock 

 in the afternoon gives the leaves a lively and healthy 

 verdure in the morning: for it is well ascertained, 



