64 



hours, by all means let them enjoy it. At this season 

 cover well up as early as three o'clock in the after- 

 noon, and in January, if severe weather, add an extra 

 mat or two. If the weather has become mild and 

 open about the 18th or 21st of January, your Auri- 

 cula plants at this time ought to be very dry ; if that 

 be the case, you may give them some water, or allow 

 them to have three hours' moderate rain, provided it 

 comes from the south-west, and let it be repeated every 

 opportunity till the mould has got moderately moist. 

 {Emmerton, 81.) 



Mr. Hogg's directions for admitting air, &c., if com- 

 mon frames are used, are very judicious. He says : — 

 Let the frames be raised on a few bricks, to admit 

 a free current of air under them, and so let them 

 continue as long as the weather is open and tempe- 

 rate. As soon as the frost sets in, remove the 

 bricks, and let the frame rest on the ground. Let 

 the pots be set on four inches deep of coal-ashes, 

 and be kept rather dry than otherwise till February, 

 receiving the water you give them through the small 

 pipe of a water-pot ; be careful also not to let the 

 water run into the heart of the plant, and con- 

 trive to give it them when the air is mild, and the 

 wind southward. If the surface mould in the pots 

 becomes incrusted, stir it slightly with an iron 

 skewer or other pointed implement. Remove de- 

 cayed leaves as they appear. 



