The GARDENrk's New Diri:ctor. 



313 



Dircilions j'.r roiling the Auricula Urfi, <jr Bear's Ear, 

 Hi vjeil by Jlippitig asjrom Seed. 



THE next tlower which attrafl^s our attention, is 

 the Auricula Urft, or Bear's Ear, which for its 

 great variety, and its ever-green leaves, is extremely 

 pleafing. 



The flowers that are mofl: efteeined, are fuch as 

 hr.ve a ilrong erect ftcin, fliort pedicles or foot-flalks, 

 bright p;lowing v.'tll ihaded colours, and thofe be- 

 ing different diftin<511y and well marked, with a 

 lour.d, florid, large eye, together with wtll expanded 

 bells, which muft not croud one upon another, but fliow 

 themfclvcs dirtincSly, v.-lth a narrow funnel, ir.clofing 

 well proportioned Filatncnts, and to which their large 

 leaves add much beauty. 



The foil in v.'hich thefe plants delight, is a free frefli 

 loam, taken from under a turf, which has not been 

 flirred for many years, and is what we call virgin-earth ; 

 to which mud be added an equal quantit/ of compofl, 

 made up of three parfs old rotted three years old cow- 

 dung, and one of fea, or rivcr-fand, excluding horfc- 

 dung: Thefe are to be in feparate heaps, uniil a few 

 days before ufing, otherwifc they will breed vermin, 

 which is very injurious to the Auricula. When you fet 

 them in pots, lay an oyiler fliell over tlie hole, with the 

 concave fide downwards, for the readier pailing off of the* 

 water, for fi\culd it flagnatc it would be very hurtlul 10 

 them. 



The beft time to take off the off-fets from the Auriculat 

 is about the 12th of Aug\(Jl\ they may be alfo taken off 

 from February to May^ provided it can be done without 

 wounding the root, of which ycu fhould be very careful, 

 as it's now your flowers are coming to blow ; but fliould 

 this not be pracVicablc, the flowers that fhow from the 

 fuckers arc to be taken away, as foon as the flalk comes 

 to its height, when the flower is to be taken off under 

 the bud ; and fhould the plants be brought from a 

 tliftance, it will be neceffary to trim their roots, to cut off 

 all dead fibres, and to fliortcn their long ones, when all 



Y 3 the 



