GARDEN AURICULA. 135 



porous, sweet, and well occupied by healthy fibres, 

 the upper surface and part of the bottom only 

 need be taken away. The plants should be pot- 

 ted so that their lov/er leaves be half an inch 

 above the surface of the mould, and this nearly 

 an inch below the edge of the pot. This depth 

 is necessary, in order to admit as large a top- 

 dressing as possible in the month of February. 



After being thus shifted and watered, the col- 

 lection must be placed where there are full air 

 and light, but defended from ardent or long-con- 

 tinued sunshine, and also from heavy and immo- 

 derate rain, the drip of trees, and the approach of 

 worms or creeping insects ; there to recover and 

 take fresh root, uninfluenced by extreme changes 

 of weather. 



It has already been observed, that the stage 

 auricula is wholly a child of art; so much so, 

 that it cannot bear the vicissitudes of the atmo- 

 sphere with impunity. A certain degree of 

 moisture for the roots, as well as leaves, is 

 necessary at all times ; and this can only be 

 applied by the attention of the cultivator. For 



