GARDEN AURICULA. 131 



sand, all well prepared and incorporated toge- 

 ther. And though he, as opportunity offers, 

 adds indiscriminately the dung of sheep, horses, 

 cows, poultry, pigeons, night-soil, and blood, to 

 his compost heap, he yet seems to approve of the 

 opinion of the Lancashire florists, who maintain 

 that the Londoners are too particular in their 

 choice of substances, and that a much simpler 

 composition would answer the same end. At the 

 same time he approves Emmerson's compost of 

 goose-dung, blood, and night-soil; loam, and 

 sugar-baker's scum, of each one-third, for top- 

 dressing in February ; and recommends some- 

 thing similar for strong blooming plants. 



Such are the composts which florists have 

 found most suitable for the auricula. Their 

 basis is fresh maiden loam, made light and porous 

 by vegetable matter, as decayed straw, hay, 

 leaves, or rotten wood, and enriched by animal 

 qualities contained in the ordure, blood, or other 

 parts after decomposition. To prevent composts 

 becoming an abode or nestling place for worms 

 and the larva of insects, they should be sprinkled 



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