420 



Gardening for Amateurs 



in small well-drained pots, in a compost made 

 up chiefly of good loam, lightened by an 

 admixture of leaf-mould and sand. Any 

 offsets without roots must be kept under a 

 handlight until they are rooted. Those 

 that were taken off towards the end of the 



A well-grown Alpine Auricula. 



previous summer will in most cases be ready 

 to shift into larger pots. 



March is a decidedly critical time for the 

 Auricula, for the sun quickly gains power, 

 and the plants make rapid progress after 

 their winter's comparative rest. There is 

 in spring often a combination of cold winds 

 and hot sunshine, in which case as much 

 air as possible should be given from the 



sheltered side. Aphides or greenfly are 

 very liable to make their appearance at this 

 season. These can be readily destroyed by 

 vaporising with the XL ALL Vaporiser ; 

 indeed, even if no insects can be seen 

 it is a good plan to vaporise before the 

 flowers open. 



April sees most of the 

 plants in flower, and proves 

 the success or otherwise 

 of the treatment they have 

 received. At this season 

 they need an increased 

 supply of water, and as 

 the flower spikes develop, 

 if there is a tendency for 

 the blooms to become over- 

 crowded, the flowers not 

 required may be removed. 

 The blooms quickly suffer 

 from direct sunshine, 

 therefore when they are 

 expanded shading is essen- 

 tial. Nevertheless it must 

 not be allowed to remain 

 on longer than is absolutely 

 necessary, otherwise the 

 colour of the flowers is 

 affected. 



May is but little ad- 

 vanced when most of the 

 blossoms are over. The 

 old stems should then be 

 cut off, just below the 

 flower heads, and the re- 

 maining portion may be 

 allowed to die down gradu- 

 ally. The best place for 

 them then is in a frame 

 facing north, and in a week 

 or two they may be re- 

 potted. This is best done 

 soon after the flowers are 

 past. A suitable compost 

 consists of 4 parts of fibrous loam (turfy 

 soil) and 1 part each of leaf -mould and 

 well-decayed manure, with a good sprink- 

 ling of silver sand. In potting, as much 

 as possible of the old and exhausted soil 

 should be removed, and the pots pre- 

 pared for the reception of the plants must 

 be clean and effectually drained. Flower 

 pots from 4 to 4 inches inside measurement 



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