422 



Gardening for Amateurs 



Showing Auricula plant and offset. 



Frama Auriculae. These insects shelter them- 

 selves in a woolly-like substance, and are 

 difficult to get rid of. They congregate 

 around the roots, among the drainage, and 

 frequently about the collar of the plants. 

 In this last named position, i.e. at the 

 extreme base of the stem, they can be 

 destroyed by vaporising with XL ALL 

 Vaporiser, or by a drop of methylated spirit 

 applied with a small brush. When the roots 

 are infested, however, the case is different, 

 hence, when repotting a sharp look out must 

 be kept, and wherever insects are found 

 tobacco powder or methylated spirit must 

 be applied to them. The latter is more effec- 

 tual, as it dissolves the woolly substance, and 

 thus reaches the aphis. The ordinary green- 

 fly, too, is apt to attack the plants, more 

 particularly in spring. However, vaporising 

 will soon get rid of them. A small maggot 

 sometimes draws the central leaves together 

 with a thread-like substance and eats its 

 way into the heart of the plant. Various 

 caterpillars are also troublesome, and need 

 watching for, as also do slugs, which are fond 

 of the young succulent leaves. With care, 

 however, these pests can all be kept in check. 

 Auriculas from Seed. Many of the 

 named varieties are decidedly expensive, 



hence Auriculas are frequently raised from 

 seeds. The cross-fertilisation is very inter- 

 esting, and it is quite possible that a flower 

 of superior class may reward the cultivator. 

 No Auricula in any class will claim attention 

 from the fancier if it is what is termed " pin 

 eyed," that is to say, in which the stigma 

 protrudes from the mouth of the flower 

 with the anthers lower down. Such a 

 defect, from a florist's standpoint, would 

 condemn even the finest flower, though the 

 outsider might look upon such a small 

 matter with indifference. A perfect bloom 

 has the stigma placed near the base of the. 

 tube, with the anthers in the mouth. In 

 order to cross-fertilise a flower the anthers 

 should be removed before the pollen is 

 scattered ; that is to say, when the bloom is 

 about half opened, and when the stigma is 

 ready the pollen selected can be applied by 

 means of a small brush. If fertilisation is 

 properly effected, the seed will ripen about 

 July. Some cultivators prefer to sow it at 

 once, while others delay doing so until 

 spring. If sown directly the seed is ripe it 

 germinates more readily as a rule than if 

 kept for some months. Seeds of the Auricula 

 are somewhat erratic in their germination, 



The offset detached and potted to form a 

 separate plant. 



