144 CULTIVATION. 



dity. The rich qualities of the compost in which 

 they grow are peculiarly acted on by the summer 

 heat ; and this, not having due ventilation, be- 

 comes corrupted, producing sickness among the 

 plants often fatal. The fact is, they cannot have 

 too much dry air during the summer, provided 

 they are duly supplied with water. The consti- 

 tution of the auricula requires pure air ; and 

 therefore the summer stage or platform should 

 receive all the advantage of free air, guarded only 

 from the mid-day sun and from excessive rain. 



That this plant is subject to disease, and that 

 it frequently appears in the summer, are circum- 

 stances well known. Mr. Hogg attributes this 

 malady to there being too much cow-dung used 

 in the compost, and especially if the plants be 

 kept in a low, moist situation : yet, though Mad- 

 dock admits that improper soil may be the cause 

 of the misfortune, he is rather of opinion that it 

 is a consequence of the neglect of shifting after 

 the flowering season ; adding, most unaccount- 

 ably, that this malady seldom or never occurs 

 in a wet or cool climate ! 



