6 GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



as they can be handled. A medium sixty-sized flower-pot will contain 

 twelve or thirteen of these small seedlings. They must be grown on 

 in hand-lights or frames, and as soon as the plants have grown to- 

 gether, they may be repotted again, this time three plants in the same 

 sized flower-pots. After a time they are again separated, and this 

 time one plant only in a pot. "When well established, repot again into 

 a small forty-eight or a 4-inch flower-pot ; and in this size the plants 

 will flower. From the sowing of the seed until the time of flowering 

 will be about twenty-two months ; and it is needless to think that the 

 time can be shortened, for Auriculas cannot be forced into flower before 

 their time. A close atmosphere and artificial heat are fatal to Auriculas, 

 either when in growth or in flower. If they are flowered in a house, the 

 plants must be placed near the glass roof, and air must be admitted 

 freely both under and over the plants. All through the growing 

 season the plants are kept in frames, from which the lights are removed 

 at every favourable opportunity. 



General Culture. In order to give a clear and concise account of the 

 cultural requirements, we will suppose that it is the month of February. 

 The Auriculas should be removed from the garden frames into the Auri- 

 cula house. This is a span-roofed structure, say 10 feet wide, and any 

 required length, with a path in the centre, and side stages about 3^ feet 

 wide, which will give a path of 2j feet. The plants are placed within 

 1 8 inches of the glass roof, or even less, and they must also be surface 

 dressed. A portion of the old top soil is removed, and replaced with a 

 compost of one part good yellow loam and one part of decayed manure. 

 All offsets ought to be removed at the same time, and there is no better 

 season of the year for planting them. They seem to do best when re- 

 moved in February. Plant each offset separately in deep thumb pots, 

 using ordinary potting mould to three parts of the depth, filling up with 

 finely sifted sandy material. Plant the offsets firmly, and place them in 

 hand-lights. It is characteristic of the Auricula after its winter rest to 

 grow away rapidly, and the offsets partake of the character of the parent 

 plants ; they also grow freely and form roots more readily than at any 

 other period. In March the trusses will rapidly develop, and to obtain 

 the best results some care is necessary. They should be protected from 

 the keen cutting east winds we frequently experience in March. It is 

 well to ventilate freely, but disastrous results would follow if the venti- 

 lators were freely opened on the east side during these frost winds ; 

 and if the frosts are (as they may be) severe, it is as well to have a little 

 heat in the hot-water pipes, for if the Auricula truss is frozen in process 

 of development the flowers seldom open well ; but beware of anything 

 approaching to a forcing temperature, which would be sure to cause 

 weakly, drawn-up stems and small flowers. In April the flowers de- 

 velop, and in that month the Auricula exhibitions are held, and no 

 flowers are more likely to be injured by the sun, therefore it is 

 necessary to shade, and at the same time see that the shading is re- 

 moved as soon as it is not needed. Those amateurs who intend to 

 exhibit for prizes must have a good knowledge of particular varieties. 

 Some will last in full beauty for three or four weeks, others will go 



